{"id":327850,"date":"2016-12-11T20:35:36","date_gmt":"2016-12-11T12:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/mkhitaryan-scores-another-belter-as-united-beat-tottenham\/"},"modified":"2016-12-11T20:35:36","modified_gmt":"2016-12-11T12:35:36","slug":"mkhitaryan-scores-another-belter-as-united-beat-tottenham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/mkhitaryan-scores-another-belter-as-united-beat-tottenham\/","title":{"rendered":"Mkhitaryan scores another belter as United beat Tottenham"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/premier-league\/2015-2016\/henrikh-mkhitaryan-scores-another-belter-as-manchester-united-beat-tottenham_sto5976393\/story.shtml\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.eurosport.com\/2016\/12\/11\/1985379-41703076-640-360.jpg\"><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored for the second match in succession to give Manchester United a much-needed victory over Tottenham in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"storyfull__paragraphs-see-also\">\n<li class=\"related-stories__list\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/premier-league\/2016-2017\/manchester-united-tottenham-hotspur_mtc861984\/live.shtml\"><span class=\"related-stories__list-event\">See also<\/span><span class=\"related-stories__list-label\">Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">The home side took the lead when Mkhitaryan, who finally has the trust of Jose <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/jose-mourinho_prs25621\/person.shtml\">Mourinho<\/a>, was released by <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/ander-herrera_prs177043\/person.shtml\">Ander Herrera<\/a> and finished cleanly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">United remain sixth but are now just three points behind their opponents, six short of rivals <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/teams\/manchester-city\/teamcenter.shtml\">Manchester City<\/a>, and 13 off leaders <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/teams\/chelsea\/teamcenter.shtml\">Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"storyfull__content-picture storyfull__content-picture--picture\" readability=\"31\">\n<div class=\"wrapper-interchange img-interchange wrapper-interchange--on format-16-9 focal-point lazyload-ok\"><span><img alt=\"Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores their first goal\"\/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"storyfull__content-picture-legend\" readability=\"32\">\n<p>Manchester United&#8217;s Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores their first goal<span class=\"storyfull__content-picture-legend-agency\">Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">In the second half, Spurs threatened as <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/matteo-darmian_prs108844\/person.shtml\">Matteo Darmian<\/a> was targeted by <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/moussa-sissoko_prs121187\/person.shtml\">Moussa Sissoko<\/a>, but United held on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">Another blow for United came late on when Mkhitaryan left on a stretcher following a hack from <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/danny-rose_prs138909\/person.shtml\">Danny Rose<\/a>. Mourinho will be concerned he will miss crucial, winnable games against <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/teams\/crystal-palace\/teamcenter.shtml\">Crystal Palace<\/a>, West Brom and <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/teams\/sunderland\/teamcenter.shtml\">Sunderland<\/a> in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"storyfull__content-picture storyfull__content-picture--picture\" readability=\"31\">\n<div class=\"wrapper-interchange img-interchange wrapper-interchange--on format-16-9 focal-point lazyload-ok\"><span><img alt=\"Henrikh Mkhitaryan sustains an injury after a challenge from Tottenham's Danny Rose\"\/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"storyfull__content-picture-legend\" readability=\"32\">\n<p>Henrikh Mkhitaryan sustains an injury after a challenge from Tottenham&#8217;s Danny Rose<span class=\"storyfull__content-picture-legend-agency\">Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">United will be relieved to finally close out a game with some resilience, and Spurs will be frustrated with a poor afternoon of toothless attacking.<\/p>\n<h2>TALKING POINT<\/h2>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>Have Manchester United finally worked out how to win close games?<\/strong> They have drawn against <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/teams\/everton\/teamcenter.shtml\">Everton<\/a>, West Ham and <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/teams\/arsenal\/teamcenter.shtml\">Arsenal<\/a> in the league, and when they failed to dominate the early stages of the second half, it was tempting to believe they would draw against Spurs, too. But <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/phil-jones_prs219447\/person.shtml\">Phil Jones<\/a> and <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/marcos-rojo_prs188589\/person.shtml\">Marcos Rojo<\/a>, surprisingly, are offering more defensive organisation with each passing match, and Eric Bailly offers a calming presence. Perhaps, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan offering danger up front, United have found a way to win tight matches under Mourinho.<\/p>\n<h2>MAN OF THE MATCH<\/h2>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United):<\/strong> The best player on the pitch by some distance, he is direct, able to find players with accurate passes, and also able to move the ball quickly when it&#8217;s at his feet. Since his return to the team, he has two goals, two assists and four man-of-the-match performances. If he is out with a serious injury, Mourinho will finally have something he can justly call bad luck.<\/p>\n<h2>PLAYER RATINGS<\/h2>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>Manchester United:<\/strong> <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/david-de-gea_prs219232\/person.shtml\">De Gea<\/a> 7, Valencia 6, Jones 7, Rojo 7, Darmian 5, <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/michael-carrick_prs3472\/person.shtml\">Carrick<\/a> 7, Herrera 6, Mkhitaryan 8, <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/paul-pogba_prs222248\/person.shtml\">Pogba<\/a> 6, Martial 5, <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/zlatan-ibrahimovic_prs17966\/person.shtml\">Ibrahimovic<\/a> 6. <strong>Subs:<\/strong> Bailly 7, <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/marouane-fellaini_prs103425\/person.shtml\">Fellaini<\/a> 6, Rashford 6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>Tottenham Hotspur:<\/strong> <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/hugo-lloris_prs47908\/person.shtml\">Lloris<\/a> 7, Walker 6, <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/toby-alderweireld_prs174060\/person.shtml\">Alderweireld<\/a> 6, Vertonghen 6, Rose 6, Wanyama 6, Dembele 6, Eriksen 5, Dele 5, Son 6, <a class=\"autolink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/harry-kane_prs222117\/person.shtml\">Kane<\/a> 5. <strong>Subs:<\/strong> Winks 6, Sissoko 7, Nkoudou 6.<\/p>\n<h2>KEY EVENTS<\/h2>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>2&#8242; &#8211; LLORIS SAVE &#8211;<\/strong> Mkhitaryan releases Ibrahimovic down the right, who crosses for Pogba&#8217;s run into the box, and he drives a shot at goal that Lloris beats away.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>18&#8242; &#8211; ERIKSEN FREE-KICK &#8211;<\/strong> Eriksen strikes it, and De Gea has to leap down to his right to palm the shot away.<\/p>\n<div class=\"storyfull__content-picture storyfull__content-picture--picture\" readability=\"31.5\">\n<div class=\"wrapper-interchange img-interchange wrapper-interchange--on format-16-9 focal-point lazyload-ok\"><span><img alt=\"Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks and Dele Alli are spoken to by referee Robert Madley\"\/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"storyfull__content-picture-legend\" readability=\"33\">\n<p>Tottenham&#8217;s Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks and Dele Alli are spoken to by referee Robert Madley<span class=\"storyfull__content-picture-legend-agency\">Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>29&#8242; &#8211; GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Spurs. Mkhitaryan scores &#8211;<\/strong> He makes a break behind the defence to chase on to a pass. He outpaces Vertonghen, takes a touch and lashes a shot over the &#8216;keeper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>63&#8242; &#8211; POGBA FREE KICK &#8211;<\/strong> Pogba strikes a superb effort against the crossbar, from 25 yards out. Lloris was rooted to the spot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>64&#8242; &#8211; POGBA SHOT &#8211;<\/strong> Pogba and Mkhitaryan swap passes, with Pogba in the box as he hooks a shot at the near post. Lloris is alive to the threat and reacts quickly with a dive to his left.<\/p>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\"><strong>70&#8242; &#8211; ERIKSEN FREE KICK &#8211;<\/strong> De Gea gets down smartly to push away an Eriksen free kick, low to the &#8216;keeper&#8217;s right.<\/p>\n<h2>KEY STATS<\/h2>\n<p class=\"storyfull__paragraph\">Mkhitaryan became the first Armenian (the 96th different nationality) to score in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<h2>MATCH IN A TWEET<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eurosport.com\/football\/premier-league\/2015-2016\/henrikh-mkhitaryan-scores-another-belter-as-manchester-united-beat-tottenham_sto5976393\/story.shtml\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.eurosport.com\/2016\/12\/11\/1985379-41703076-640-360.jpg\"><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Premier League, Old Trafford &#8211; Manchester United 1 (Mkhitaryan 29&#8242;) Tottenham Hotspur 0.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5817,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[71,59,70],"class_list":["post-327850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-media","tag-eurosport","tag-media","tag-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5817"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327850\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}