Manchester United’s wastefulness overshadows Spurs’ three-goal collapse

United’s xG of 4.98 told one story, but missed chances and poor game management defined a chaotic draw.

Fridolina Rolfö managed to salvage a point for Manchester United against Spurs. Credit: Getty Images

Where do we even start with this game? Manchester United drew 3-3 with Spurs on Sunday afternoon in a crazy match at the Progress with Unity Stadium. It was a big fightback from the Red Devils, who scored three goals in the final 15 minutes of the game, with super sub Fridolina Rolfö making a huge impact by contributing to two of those, while Ella Toone netted the other.

Going into this game, there was a lot of hype, with Spurs looking a much better outfit this season under new manager Martin Ho, who, alongside analyst Lawrence Shamieh, are both former staff members at Manchester United under Marc Skinner’s tenure. The stage was set for a feisty but competitive encounter, and the game certainly lived up to the hype. Here are some key takeaways from the game.

Missed chances

If there was ever a game to summarise United’s attacking output this season so far, it’s this one. United registered 34 shots, 11 of them on target, for an xG of 4.98 – the highest they have recorded all season, with the previous highest coming in last weekend’s WSL fixture against West Ham (2.6). Four of those shots also hit the crossbar, with Hinata Miyazawa, Melvine Malard, Maya Le Tissier and Toone all striking the woodwork from different positions.

So the question is how? How did United not take all three points from this game?

While United have scored goals this season and remain the second-highest scorers in the league, their lack of clinical finishing is starting to cost them points, which could prove damaging given how close the WSL table is in the race for the top three. Before this game, United sat ninth in the WSL for big-chance conversion and missed another six in this game also.