Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live text coverage of the International Champions Cup fixture between
Tottenham Hotspur and
Manchester United from Shanghai. United have overcome Perth Glory, Leeds United and Inter Milan in their three friendly games this summer, while Spurs started their preparations for the 2019-20 campaign with a 3-2 win over Juventus. Stay tuned for live updates!
TEAMS!
SPURS: Gazzaniga; Walker-Peters, Tanganga, Vertonghen, Georgiou; Winks, Sissoko, Ndombele, Alli; Parott, Kane
UNITED: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Smalling, Rojo, Young; McTominay, Andreas; James, Pogba, Greenwood; Martial
Tottenham's team shows just the three changes from the Juventus clash, with Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Kane coming in for Oliver Skipp, Erik Lamela and Son Heung-min. Troy Parrott is once again selected in the final third of the field, while the team's lack of options at left-back sees Anthony Georgiou keep his position in the XI.
As for United, head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made six changes to the team that started against Inter, with Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira and Mason Greenwood coming in.
Anthony Martial will play through the middle, while there is once again no Romelu Lukaku as the speculation surrounding the striker's future continues.
The two teams have locked horns on 191 occasions in all competitions, with the Red Devils leading the head to head 91 wins to Tottenham's 52. Pochettino's side recorded a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League towards the start of last season, but United ran out 1-0 winners in the reverse match on January 13. Both sets of players will soon walk onto the field.
Kickoff has actually been put back six minutes - yes, six minutes - so we are now five minutes from kickoff in Shanghai. Both sets of players have just walked from the air-conditioning tunnel onto the field - Kane leading Tottenham and Young leading United.
Three games, three wins, seven goals scored and zero conceded - that is how United have performed during pre-season. Tottenham, meanwhile, started their preparations for the new campaign with an impressive 3-2 success over Italian champions Juventus.
The game will bring to an end this leg of United's tour. Indeed, next up is a clash with Kristiansund in Oslo before facing AC Milan in Cardiff on August 3. Can the Red Devils put a fourth straight victory on the board? It will be tough against a strong Tottenham side.
Here we go then - Kane and Young have just exchanged flags and kickoff is now imminent. It must be said that the atmosphere inside the stadium is absolutely incredible here.
KICKOFF: Tottenham kick things off in Shanghai...
... it will be interesting to see whether both managers decide to make wholesale changes at the break or substitutions here and there. United are ahead of Tottenham when it comes to their preparations for the new campaign, which will play a role in the amount of alterations.
Not too much to report in the early stages of this game, with both teams having the ball without threatening a serious attack. There have already been some heavy challenges, though, suggesting that there will not be too much 'friendly' about this pre-season clash.
Kane puts Smalling under some pressure inside the United box, but the centre-back manages to head back to De Gea. The Red Devils then have a positive moment down the other end when Pereira runs at Vertonghen, but the midfielder cannot feed Martial.
OFF THE POST! Oh my word! Martial rattles the post for United after being fed by James in a dangerous position. The Frenchman went across goal, but it smashed off the woodwork!
Plenty happening at the moment with Tottenham guilty of conceding possession in a number of dangerous areas. Play stops for a moment, though, with Alli flying into a challenge with Wan-Bissaka. It was not a good tackle for the England international.
James is again available down the left for United and looks to deliver into a dangerous position, but Walker-Peters makes the block. Good pressure from the Red Devils here.
United continue to force the issue with a couple of dangerous crosses into the Tottenham box. The second of which sees Wan-Bissaka flash a ball towards Martial, but Tanganga makes the clearance. Solskjaer's side are very much on the front foot at the moment.
SAVE! Super save from De Gea to keep out a low strike from Alli after Parrott had found his teammate inside the United box. Really good goalkeeping from the Spaniard.
YELLOW CARD! Alli (Tottenham) is booked for a late challenge on McTominay.
Pogba and Martial both have shots blocked as United force the issue once again. The Red Devils win another corner following good work from Martial, but Vertonghen clears.
Greenwood delivers a really dangerous cross towards the middle of the Tottenham box, but Tanganga makes the clearance. Kane then breaks down the other end and wins a free kick.
United have a free kick just outside the Tottenham box as James is fouled by Sissoko...
SAVE! ... Young's free kick is straight into the arms of Gazzaniga.
Still goalless with 19 minutes on the clock, but it has been a very lively game with both sides having good chances to find the back of the net. United have shaded it overall.
Kane does really well in a wide area to hold off Young before delivering into a dangerous area, but there are no takers. Parrott continues to be busy in the final third, meanwhile, with the teenager showing his potential. All in all, it has been a very entertaining game thus far.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UNITED (MARTIAL)
GOAL! United make the breakthrough in the 21st minute as Pereira drives into a dangerous position before releasing Martial, who manages to squeeze the ball through the legs of the Tottenham goalkeeper. Not the best from Gazzaniga, but Martial will not mind one bit!
Martial is sending out a message in this match - that is for sure. The Frenchman's movement in the final third has been excellent and he now has his goal. Back to the action here and it is kicking off between both sets of players following a late challenge.
James was chopped down by Sissoko in a wide area and the United fans were not best pleased - it was poor from the Frenchman. The referee is on the scene to calm it down.
SAVE! Gazzaniga has to keep out a curling effort from Young as United threaten again. Things are really heating up on the field and opportunities are continuing to arrive here.
Sissoko again goes in on James and must be getting close to a yellow card. There is nothing friendly about this match due to the nature of challenges that are arriving here.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Martial's goal separates the two teams - that has been far from the end of the story, though, as it has been a half packed full of incidents. Both managers could well make wholesale changes at the interval.
SHOT! Kane fires harmlessly over the United crossbar from a long-range free kick.
Time for a water break, which is not a surprise. The heat is incredible.
Play resumes following the water break. Will there be any more goals before the end of the first period? It really has been an entertaining International Champions Cup fixture.
United have not actually conceded a single goal during this pre-season and it will be impressive if they manage to keep another clean sheet in this match. Rojo and Smalling are currently United's two centre-backs, but Solskjaer could change it at the interval.
The match does appear to have settled following the water break and it has certainly helped Tottenham, who are having a lot more of the ball. No real attempts, though.
James continues to cause problems with his pace and movement in the final third, and there is no question that the Wales international has made a big impression on tour. Little over five minutes of the first period remaining, with Martial's goal still the difference here.
YELLOW CARD! Pereira (Man United) is booked for a heavy challenge on Kane.
Brilliant challenge from McTominay to clear ahead of Kane as Tottenham threaten inside the United box. The Red Devils have defended well in the first 41 minutes of this game.
YELLOW CARD! Tanganga (Tottenham) is booked for a foul on Greenwood.
Martial threatens to race away from the Tottenham defence once again, but the Frenchman is penalised for a push and Spurs escape what was another dangerous attack here.
United again break down the right through Pogba, but a super move involving Pereira and Martial ends with Vertonghen making the clearance. Still 1-0 to the Red Devils here.
CLOSE! Pogba's powerful strike just misses the Tottenham post after excellent work from James, who had regained the ball after a heavy touch. The Welshman has been all-action!
HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UNITED
So there we have it - the referee brings the first period to a close with United leading Tottenham 1-0 courtesy of a strike from Martial. Tottenham have had their moments in the final third of the field, but it would be fair to say that the Red Devils have been the better side.
STATISTICS! Tottenham actually shaded the first-half possession with 62%, but they only managed one shot on target from two attempts. United, meanwhile, had three shots on target from seven attempts. Three yellow cards to report, with Alli and Tanganga in the book for Tottenham and Andreas Pereira picking up a booking for a late challenge on Kane.
BENCH WATCH! Bailly, Dalot, Lindelof, Lingard, Mata, Matic, Rashford and Fred are amongst those who will be hoping to receive some minutes for United in the second half here.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have the likes of Alderweireld, Eriksen, Foyth, Lamela, Lucas, Skipp and Son on their bench. It remains to be seen whether wholesale changes occur at the break.
There have been three bookings in the first period, but Sissoko did not pick one up despite this rash challenge on James, who has caused all sorts of problems with his pace and movement.
© Reuters
KICKOFF: United resume the action here...
... wholesale changes from both teams at the interval. I will attempt to confirm who has entered when it becomes possible. It is fun when it happens all at once with no confirmation!
MAN UNITED SECOND-HALF XI: Romero; Dalot, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Lingard, Gomes, Mata; Rashford
TOTTENHAM SUBS! Son and Lamela have replaced Parrott and Kane for Tottenham. That appears to be it for now, but I will have another run through just to make sure.
SHOT! Fred strikes wide of the Tottenham post from outside the box. It has been a bright start to the second half from United, who have a brand new XI on the field in Shanghai.
TOTTENHAM SUB! Foyth has also replaced Walker-Peters for Tottenham.
CLOSE! Son breaks behind the United defence and looks to lift the ball over Romero, but it just lands over the crossbar. Excellent work from the South Korean, who entered at the break.
Son again fires over the United crossbar from a dangerous position, but the offside flag had been raised. There were six Spurs changes at the break, meanwhile, which will follow...
TOTTENHAM: Gazzaniga; Walker-Peters (Foyth 46'), Tangana, Vertonghen (Alderweireld 46'), Georgiou; Winks (Skipp 46'), Sissoko, Ndombele (Lucas 46'), Alli; Parrott (Lamela 46'), Kane (Son 46')
United have a problem with Bailly, who has signalled to the bench that he cannot continue, which is a huge blow for both the club and the player. Looks to be a bad one here.
Bailly has been stretchered off the field and Tuanzebe will be introduced.
MAN UNITED SUB! Tuanzebe replaces Bailly for the Red Devils.
Alli sees a cross headed wide by Dalot as Tottenham have another bright moment in the final third of the field. Spurs have been brighter in attack since the half-time changes here.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining and you do get the feeling that we have not seen the last of the goals here. United are again on the attack through Gomes, but Alli eventually manages to get a foot in and Pochettino's side can clear their lines here.
Son has certainly made a big difference for Tottenham with another low cross from the attacker causing problems. Shaw, this time, is on hand to concede a corner kick.
SAVE! Comfortable save from the Spurs goalkeeper to keep out a strike from Fred.
TOTTENHAM SUBS! Eriksen, Roles and White replace Alli, Sissoko and Georgiou.
Little over 25 minutes of normal time remaining, with Martial's goal still separating the two teams. There has to be a winner in this game and therefore there will be a penalty shootout if Tottenham manage to find a leveller. The tempo of the match remains really high here.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-1 MAN UNITED (LUCAS)
GOAL! Tottenham level the scores in the 65th minute as
Lucas Moura's strike takes a deflection off Shaw before dropping into the back of the net. Very fortunate equaliser there!
As just mentioned, this will go to penalties if the score is still level at the end of 90 minutes - that is the case at the moment, but there is still a lot of football to be played in Shanghai.
SHOT! Rashford chips over the Tottenham crossbar from close range with the England international finally having the chance in the second period. Spurs are the better side at the moment.
TOTTENHAM SUB! Marsh replaces Tanganga as Spurs make another change.
United are having to work hard as a defensive unit at the moment as Tottenham continue to force the issue. Son and Lucas are causing a lot of problems with their pace and movement, providing a different option than Kane and Parrott in the opening half of action here.
Lindelof does well to clear ahead of Lucas as United come under more pressure at the back. No sign of the game's third goal at the moment, but there is still a solid 15 minutes to play here.
Super defending from Foyth to clear a brilliant cross from Dalot, who had worked some space before flashing a dangerous cross into the Tottenham box. Mata takes the resulting corner, which is cleared by Alderweireld ahead fo Tuanzebe, who was flying in to make contact.
Time for another hydration break here.
Back underway in Shanghai - will there be a winner in normal time?
Tottenham continue to find space in the final third with Lamela taking up good positions behind Son and Lucas. Another dangerous cross from White comes in towards Lucas, but Lindelof does well to make the challenge. Pochettino's team are on the front foot here.
Tuanzebe does well to get in the way of a strike from Son as Tottenham continue to force the issue. Not an awful lot from United going forward at the moment here.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-2 MAN UNITED (GOMES)
GOAL! United score a second! It is against the run of play, but the Red Devils have their second of the game with Andre Gomes finding the bottom corner with a brilliant low finish from a wide angle. Rashford wanted the pass, but the academy product had other ideas. Huge moment for him.
Greenwood has scored twice for United on tour, while Gomes is now on the scoresheet, which is brilliant for the academy. Little under 10 minutes of the second half remaining here.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Rashford fires into the back of the net with a powerful strike, but the offside flag is raised, much to the England international's disappointment. It looked very close indeed.
Little under five minutes of normal time remaining and we will be avoiding a penalty shootout as things stand, but Tottenham are still carrying a threat in the latter stages here.
Eriksen has struggled to make an impact since entering the field and the Denmark international has been strongly linked with a move away from Pochettino's side this summer.
Smart goalkeeping from Romero to keep hold of a low cross from Son, who had worked some space in a wide area before delivering. There could be a few minutes of stoppage time here.
Three minutes of stoppage time will be played in Shanghai.
SHOT! Son curls wide of the far post from a dangerous position after working more space. The South Korean has been so dangerous for Pochettino's side in the second period.
Another Tottenham attack breaks down and that could be that in terms of this match. United are set to pick up another win courtesy of that fine finish from Gomes in the 80th minute.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Tottenham to score late on, but Lucas heads wide of the post!
FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM 1-2 MAN UNITED
So there we have it - the referee brings the second period to a close with United running out 2-1 winners over Tottenham courtesy of a fine finish from Gomes in the latter stages.
Tottenham improved in the second half after a disappointing first 45 minutes, but Gomes came up with a late winner to ensure that United would continue their impressive pre-season.
That is just about it from me this afternoon - it was another excellent game in the International Champions Cup. I will leave you with
the match report. See you again very soon!