Tottenham Hotspur breaks the drought and conquers the Europa League!
In a tense encounter played in Bilbao, Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League, ending a 17-year wait without lifting a trophy. Brennan Johnson’s goal in the 42nd minute was enough to overcome Manchester United with a score of 1-0.
Both teams arrived at the match under enormous pressure, after disappointing campaigns in the Premier League. Manchester United was in 16th position and Tottenham below, in 17th. However, Tottenham’s coach, Ange Postecoglou, kept his promise to win a title in his second season in charge of the team.
Postecoglou, who was facing a challenge to keep his position, has now given Tottenham their first trophy since 2008 and their first European honor since 1984. In addition, he secured a place in the Champions League and an estimated £100 million in revenue, at the expense of Manchester United, who will face a season without European football for the first time since 2014-15.
In a match with few clear chances, Johnson’s goal, after a cross from Pape Matar Sarr, was enough to break the tie and unleash euphoria among the Tottenham supporters present at the San Mamés Stadium.
Tottenham chose to leave their captain, Son Heung-Min, on the bench, while Ruben Amorim lined up Mason Mount instead of Alejandro Garnacho.
On a night of high tension, both goalkeepers contributed to a nervous start. Noussair Mazraoui made a crucial intervention, and Guglielmo Vicario had some problems.
The opening goal reflected the low level of play. Sarr sent in a cross from the left, where Johnson and Shaw tried to finish. The ball rebounded off Shaw and went into the goal, with Johnson touching the ball last.
United had more possession after the break, but struggled to create danger. Leny Yoro tried to head in a free kick from Fernandes, but Vicario saved the ball. Tottenham retreated and Dominic Solanke missed a clear chance.
Son entered the field with 23 minutes remaining, but United had their best chance when Vicario failed to stop a ball from Fernandes, and Rasmus Hojlund headed, but Micky Van der Ven cleared the ball acrobatically from the goal line.
Hojlund was substituted by Joshua Zirkzee, and Garnacho came on for Mount. Fernandes headed wide, and Garnacho forced Vicario to make a save. Tottenham retreated even further, and Shaw forced Vicario to make a great save in stoppage time, but Tottenham held on to make history.
Tottenham have won all three matches they have played against United this season and are unbeaten in six consecutive matches against the Old Trafford team, with the last five under Ange Postecoglou.
United and Tottenham had only faced each other in a final previously: the 2009 League Cup, which Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils won 4-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
