In the capital, Sheffield United put on an impressive display but were heartbreakingly denied a deserved reward due to two goals in the final 14 minutes of stoppage time.
Gustavo Hamer scored his second goal for the Blades late in the second half, and it seemed like the visitors were on track for their first win of the season against all odds. However, substitute Richarlison leveled the score, and then Dejan Kulusevski dealt a devastating blow as Oli McBurnie was sent off even later into added time.
Manager Heckingbottom made four changes as United returned to top-flight action after the international break. With Egan absent, Basham took the captain’s armband, and McAtee made his debut while Norwood was relegated to the bench. Thomas had his full debut, and Bogle started for the first time this season in place of the injured Baldock.
Spurs: Vicario, Son (Johnson 79), Bissouma, Maddison, Romero, Kulusevski, Porro (Emerson Royal 90), Solomon (Perisic 79), Sarr (Richarlison 79), van de Ven (Højbjerg 90), Udogie.
Unused: Forster, Skipp, Dier, Davies.
Blades: Foderingham, Basham, Hamer (T. Davies 79), McBurnie, Archer, Thomas, Ahmedhodžić, Robinson, Bogle (Trusty 86), Souza, McAtee (Norwood 70).
Unused: A. Davies, Traoré, Slimane, Larouci, Seriki.
First half
Following an encouraging start to the match, Sarr registered the first shot on target, while McBurnie unintentionally directed an attempt into Archer after a delightful move by the visiting team. In the 19th minute, Foderingham made an excellent save at his near post following a powerful run by Bissouma past Souza and Basham, and he also parried a curling long-shot from Son.
The Blades, however, had a clear chance for a goal moments later when McAtee forced Vicario into a splendid reaction save after Bogle delivered a ball from the byline. Maddison and then Solomon took shots as Basham received a caution, and just before half-time, the former Leicester player continued to threaten United’s increasingly resilient defence.
Archer and Foderingham both found themselves booked, with Foderingham penalised for handling the ball outside his area, the first 45 minutes concluded with McBurnie heading Hamer’s corner directly at Vicario.
Second half
The second half kicked off with three players receiving bookings: Van De Ven for the hosts, McBurnie and Robinson for United. The pressure continued to mount on the Blades, with Maddison getting a yellow card for animated protests following a corner resulting from a shot by Solomon.
Meanwhile, Archer set up McAtee, but his shot was deflected into Vicario’s hands during a break.
Norwood was subsequently brought on to replace the Manchester City loanee, and less than five minutes later, the Blades seized the lead when Hamer struck a left-footed shot into the far corner, capitalising on the failure to clear Robinson’s long throw. United valiantly defended their goal, with Basham, Ahmedhodzic, and Robinson all making crucial blocks to protect the lead. And then Tom Davies entered the game to reinforce the midfield with the goal scorer struggling.
In the 87th minute, home fans erupted in celebration as substitute Johnson appeared to have equalized, but the assistant referee intervened, and fourth official Webb signaled an additional 12 minutes of added time.
The Blades continued to withstand the pressure until the 98th minute when Richarlison leaped highest at the near post to head home Maddison’s curling corner. Then, Kulusevski delivered the decisive moment, with Richarlison providing the assist as United suffered a heartbreaking defeat. To make matters worse, McBurnie strangely received a second yellow card before the final whistle.
