Courtesy: Tottenham Hotspur/X
On Wednesday, May 21, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final in San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, to win their first major trophy after a wait of 17 years. Brennan Johnson scored the solitary goal in the final for Tottenham Hotspur in the first half, which ended up being the match-winner, to not only edge his name in the history books but also send the club’s fans into ecstasy inside the stadium and all over the world.
The first half was quite a pulsating one between both the sides with Tottenham Hotspur creating clearer chances, but Manchester United had kept the ball possession for the most of it. In the 42nd minute, Pape Matar Sarr’s delightful cross in the six yard box saw Luke Shaw and Brennan Johnson trying to get on the end of, but it ultimately went goal bound off the body of Shaw before Johnson managed to tuck it inside the post away from the outstretched right hand of goalkeeper Andre Onana to give Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Manchester United threw the kitchen sink at Tottenham Hotspur in the attack, and the 68th minute saw goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario make a meal of catching the hopeful cross from Bruno Fernandes before it came directly into the path of Rasmus Hojlund. The Manchester United striker headed it into an empty net until defender Micky Van de Ven cleared it off the line in an incredible piece of athleticism.
Tottenham Hotspur celebrated UEFA Europa League triumph in style
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Manchester United kept pushing for the equaliser and in the second half stoppage time, Guglielmo Vicario stopped a goalbound header Luke Shaw, to not only help Tottenham Hotspur keep a clean sheet, but also clinch the UEL in dramatic circumstances. Son Heung-min got to lift the coveted trophy as the club captain, which also ended his career trophy drought with Tottenham Hotspur.
Bennan Johnson spoke about the title triumph of Tottenham Hotspur, stating that it meant so much to him. He was quoted as saying, as per BBC Sport, “All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning a trophy. We had to get the first one, I'm so happy. Ever since I came here it has been 'Tottenham, good team but can't get it done', but we got it done. This season has not been good at all, not one of us players care about that now. This club has not won a trophy for 17 years, it means so much.”
