With Tottenham Hotspur selling their captain, Harry Kane to Bayern Munich ahead of the 2024/25 season, they defeated Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League final on Wednesday in Bilbao, Spain.
The victory secured Spurs its first cup title in 17 years.
Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mamés was full of tears of joy from Tottenham fans clad in white and players alike at the full-time whistle as the team appears to have abolished the reputation for not finishing big matches.
It’s a major moment for Spurs as they win the club’s first trophy since 2008 and first continental silverware since the 1983-84 season. The north London club has struggled to shake off the reputation of being “nearly good enough” over the last decade and celebrated the win as if it was their first trophy in nearly two decades.
The first half was sloppy, with both teams unable to take control of the game or create genuine goal chances. Spurs struck late in the half through midfielder Brennan Johnson.
In the 42nd minute, Tottenham’s midfielder Pape Sarr whipped a right-footed cross into the area, with the ball deflecting off Man United’s Luke Shaw and then getting a slight touch from Spurs’ top scorer in all competitions.
The scrappy conversion from the Welshman sent Tottenham fans into euphoria, while fans wearing red remained seated and dejected just ahead of the half.
Former VfL Wolfsburg Micky van de Ven pulled off a spectacular goal clearance in the win over United.
The highlight of the match, at least the most athletic, came in the second half. With United pressing for an equalizer, Micky Van de Ven flashed a moment of brilliance.
After Manchester United’s free-kick was blundered by Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario, United’s Rasmus Højlund snapped an uncontested header toward an unguarded goal, only for the Dutchman to fill the gaping space with an acrobatic scissor kick goal clearance to preserve the lead in the 62nd minute.
Later, Vicario made amends with a nifty stretch save on Alejandro Garnacho and then an even better clean sheet and the win.