Tottenham survived a stirring second-half fightback from Manchester United to claim a 3-2 victory that was their first at Old Trafford for 23 years.
The hosts needed the half-time introduction of Wayne Rooney to spark into life but of three goals in three frantic second-half minutes, it was Clint Dempsey's (53) that proved decisive.
Spurs set out to attack a side depleted in central defence and it swiftly paid off, Jan Vertonghen surging into ample space and finding the corner with a shot that hit Johnny Evans to wrongfoot Anders Lindegaard (2).
Slick and incisive while United laboured, it was no surprise that Andre Villas-Boas's side doubled their lead, Gareth Bale this time the man to drive through red shirts towards goal, before finishing inside the far post (32).
United should have had a penalty when Vertonghen grabbed a fistful of Nani's shirt shortly before the break but Tottenham were good value for their lead and Sir Alex Ferguson knew it, to go by his grimace.
Home fans called for Rooney and how they were rewarded; the cross he delivered into a prime position just six minutes after coming on met expertly by Nani (51).
Old Trafford roared its approval, only for Dempsey to deliver an immediate riposte, but then Shinji Kagawa converted coolly a further minute later and both sets of fans could hardly catch their breath.
A Rooney free-kick hit the upright (61), Robin van Persie, whose through-ball had set up Kagawa, skewed a shot wide and Carrick's flick-on clipped the bar but Tottenham got away with it and United's escape act for once deserted them.
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