Tottenham Hotspur brought an end to their 17-year trophy drought with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
The north London club’s first silverware since 2008 was secured through a scrappy but decisive goal from Brennan Johnson in the first half.
The match, played in Bilbao, was marked by a lackluster performance from both teams, who sat 16th and 17th in the Premier League.
However, the tension and importance of the occasion seemed to spark the players into life, particularly in the 43rd minute when Johnson helped the ball over the line after a mix-up between Luke Shaw and Andre Onana.
Despite a stop-start second half, Tottenham’s defense held strong, thanks in part to a crucial clearance from center-back Micky van de Ven.
The Dutch defender acrobatically cleared a looping header from Rasmus Hojlund, denying United a potential equalizer.
As the game wore on, Manchester United threw everything at Tottenham, introducing Alejandro Garnacho off the bench in a bid to break down the Spurs’ defense.
However, Ange Postecoglou’s men held firm, with Pedro Porro and his teammates proving too strong for the Red Devils.
The victory marked a triumphant end to a season that had been marred by inconsistency and disappointment for Tottenham.
Postecoglou, who had been under pressure to deliver silverware in his second season, proved his doubters wrong, following up his League Cup triumph with a European title.
For Manchester United, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, finishing the season trophyless and 16th in the Premier League – their worst finish in years.
The defeat also meant that United would have to wait another year to return to the Champions League.
The win was sweet revenge for Tottenham, who had lost to United in the 2009 League Cup final.
It was also a testament to Postecoglou’s team, who had been unbeaten in six straight games against their opponents, with the last five under the Australian manager’s guidance.
