Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United: Europa League glory

Tottenham Hotspur have ended their 17-year silverware drought after they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final.

Oh, how long have I waited to write this title.

This fixture arguably generated more anticipation than the Champions League final itself, simply because this was the last opportunity for both clubs to salvage their otherwise miserable seasons.

And what a night it turned out to be for Tottenham Hotspur, who lifted the Europa League for the third time in their history – and for the first time in 41 years – while securing Champions League qualification despite languishing 17th in the league.

That, in many ways, makes it even more poetic and this night will live long in Spurs folklore.

It was a predictable starting XI from Ange Postecoglou, with few surprises after he shared team news earlier in the week. However, there were murmurs of disappointment when Heung-min Son was left out despite impressing against Aston Villa most recently. Turns out, the next 90 minutes had all the answers.

Let’s have a look at our Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United match report.

First half: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United

It started off exactly as per expectations; there wasn’t any room for complacency for either side.

Manchester United had the first effort on target when Bruno Fernandes saw his effort blocked by teammate Mason Mount in the Spurs box.

Spurs, however, had more of the early possession and looked more purposeful going forward. Pedro Porro did his job of sending in a cross to Richarlison, but Noussair Mazraoui had his eyes on it and headed it out – from what looked like a situation the Brazilian would definitely have made the most of.

Then came a brilliant run from Brennan Johnson, who robbed Luke Shaw off the ball and surged forward before sending his trademark low cross across goal. Onana parried it into Pape Matar Sarr’s path, but Maguire blocked the follow-up effort.

Richarlison looked very lively on counters, hardly misplacing a pass from the left and sending in chances from crosses. He almost converted from a set-piece after the ball bounced off Casemiro and Mount. But Fernandes got in the way to block.

United’s best chance fell to Diallo, who pounced on a weak punch from Vicario, received the ball via Maguire, and fired a shot from a tight angle that just skimmed past the far post.

United did have an upper hand statistically as the first half approached its end, but it was Spurs who went ahead first on the night.

Rodrigo Bentancur drew two United defenders towards him down the left channel before Sarr whipped in a low cross. United failed to deal with it, and though it looked like an own goal from Luke Shaw who tried chesting it to the keeper, it was Johnson who got the final flick and squeezed it past Onana at the near post. 1-0 Spurs.

At the break, Spurs had registered just one shot on target (Johnson’s goal) yet had generated 1.01 xG compared to United’s 0.21. Despite enjoying decent possession, the Red Devils failed to create clear openings, while Spurs made their only real chance count.

Second half: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United

Spurs were 45 minutes away from European glory and they played like a side that knew exactly what was required.

Predictably, United saw plenty of the ball as the second half kicked off. But it took them quite some time to trouble Vicario. A big reason for that is how well the midfield trio of Bentancur, Sarr, and Bissouma coordinated and intercepted, which made it tough for United to progress with the ball.

Eventually, they troubled Vicario after Fernandes came close with a great free-kick that the Italian awkwardly dealt with. Solanke was quick to clear after Leny Yoro’s faint touch though.

Spurs then had their first chance from a counter. Destiny Udogie won the ball inside his own half before surging forward. He and Solanke broke two-vs-one, but the striker’s heavy touch let the chance slip. It should’ve been 2-0.

The game’s defining defensive moment came around the 70th minute. Vicario misjudged a Fernandes free-kick and Hojlund’s header seemed destined for the net. That was until Micky van de Ven acrobatically cleared it off the line. Yoro’s follow-up was then blocked by Cristian Romero. This one is for the History books.

Then Fernandes came close once again, as Mazraoui’s cross spotted his run but his header flew wide from 10 yards out, much to Vicario’s relief.

It didn’t take long for Vicario to be involved again, however, as the freshly introduced Garnacho forced him into a superb low save.

Spurs kept a really good defensive shape even after they switched to an unfamiliar back five after Kevin Danso replaced Johnson. Danso nearly made an impact at the other end, stretching for a curling Son free-kick.

Meanwhile, Romero got into Maguire’s head. And it really did good to Spurs, as the English defender, playing almost as an advanced centre-forward, could no longer perform at his best being in a fit of rage.

Six minutes of added time felt like six hours. But they did really well to hold on despite successive late chances for United.

Yoro first blazed over from distance. Then came Vicario’s moment of glory, pushing away Shaw’s bullet header in the dying seconds.

Casemiro tried an overhead kick from a corner but it hit the side netting, and that did it for Spurs.

FT: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United. History made.

Spurs Web man of the match: Every single player

What’s next for the champions of Europe?

“I always win things in my second season,” a wise man once said. And so he did – in the most Tottenham Hotspur way possible.

Some of the world’s greatest managers have graced this club, played their football, and left empty-handed. Yet it was a 59-year-old Australian, new to English football, who brought Spurs their first major silverware in 17 years. Ange Postecoglou took charge of his 100th game for the club. And he couldn’t have asked for a better game for his centurion.

Like he said, knockout football demands a different footballing style. And Spurs have always been a different side in knockout games. For large parts of the domestic season, they were known as the club who loved to keep possession, yet clueless about what to do with it. Compare that to their knockout performances, whether in cup competitions or in Europe. It wasn’t the prettiest football, or the typical AngeBall, yet it delivered long-awaited glory.

Every single player in that starting XI and among the substitutes stepped up, fully aware of what this game meant for themselves, the club, and the fans. From Johnson scoring, Porro’s defensive improvements, the makeshift midfield, Van de Ven’s last-minute clearance, Romero playing the mind games, to Vicario’s rare clean sheet – and I could go on for every single one of them.

With this win, Tottenham Hotspur have officially become the second English club to secure European football and qualify for the UEFA Super Cup final. But this should mean far more for the fans in intangible, emotional ways than what it brings financially or in the transfer market.

No words befit what it meant to watch Heung-Min Son lift the trophy in front of his fans. A massive thank you, on behalf of all Tottenham fans, to the players, the manager, and everyone involved in making this happen.

2025 will be a year remembered by football fans all around the world. Hopefully, this is just the start of many more to come for Tottenham.

Up the Spurs.

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