Brennan Johnson’s winner gifted Tottenham Hotspur a third UEFA Europa League title and qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League, with 1-0 win over Manchester United in the final.
Luke Shaw deflected Johnson’s touch of Pape Matar Sarr’s cross into his own net in the 42nd minute which ultimately settled the tie although UEFA eventually credited Johnson with the winner upon review, having adjudged him to have got the final touch.
The victory gave Tottenham a third title in this competition – having previously won in 1971-72 and 83-84 seasons under the old ‘UEFA Cup’ title, plus ended a 17-year title drought since they won the 2007-08 League Cup.
Spurs also qualified for next season’s Champions League through this title win, despite being guaranteed a bottom-half finish in this season’s Premier League.
Johnson post-match spoke to TNT Sports about his pride at Spurs’ European campaign amidst their awful league season.
“Tottenham Hotspur being 17th in the Premier League is not good enough. We had an unbelievable Europa run.”
Johnson also iterated his support for under-fire manager – Ange Postecoglou as he added: “He has done his job. He said he wins in the second year and he has, if there’s ever a time for a mic drop, it’s now [when he speaks to the media].
“I can’t thank the manager enough for how much trust he has in us and he has a really good way of getting us up for it.”
Man Utd now will miss out on a season in Europe for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.
Amidst dismal league campaigns, both Tottenham and Man Utd put their Champions League qualification eggs entirely within their Europa League baskets which placed immense pressure upon this showpiece final as Spurs initially began on the front foot.
Utd however almost dealt first blood as Harry Maguire’s fourth-minute header was blocked by Guglielmo Vicario, but the Italian goalkeeper’s block fell for Bruno Fernandes who fired wide.
Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils soon found themselves lucky not to concede seven minutes later as Johnson’s shot was blocked, before Richarlison saw an effort blocked from a free-kick after Noussair Mazraoui fouled the Brazilian.
Amad Diallo and Fernandes saw shots go wide for Utd as the game soon began to turn scrappy with little quality until Johnson met a deep 42nd-minute cross from Sarr, but his fumbled touch bounced in off Shaw into United’s own net to give Spurs a scruffy lead at half-time.
UEFA initially awarded the goal as Shaw’s own-goal but upon a closer review, they reversed their decision after Johnson was adjudged to had got the final touch off Shaw’s deflection into the bottom-left corner.
Any hope of a second-half improvement in quality didn’t really materialise until a 58th-minute free-kick from Fernandes was blocked by Vicario, despite Yoro’s faint touch at the near-right post.
Spurs in response almost wrapped up the tie just four minutes later after Destiny Udogie intercepted Diallo and sprinted up the pitch, which allowed him to tee up Dominic Solanke but the forward’s touch strayed just wide.
Utd eventually made a double change as Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund were hooked with 19 minutes left for Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee, which sparked fresh life into the side as Fernandes nodded wide from Mazraoui’s cross a minute later.
Vicario shortly afterwards denied Garnacho as Utd desperately turned up their intensity to try and salvage extra-time at an absolute minimum.
Spurs eventually dug in defensively to clinch a first European title in 41 years and their 150th victory in all UEFA competitions as Vicario cleared Shaw’s 96th-minute header, whilst manager – Postecoglou retained his record of winning at least one trophy in his second season at a club.
What’s Next?
Tottenham conclude their season with a home clash against top-eight chasing Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday 25 May at 4pm BST.
Man Utd will also be in action at the same time on Sunday as they entertain Aston Villa at Old Trafford, with the Villains needing a win or draw if results go their way to secure a Champions League qualification spot.
Teams
Tottenham: Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Mickey van de Ven, Destiny Udogie (Spence 90′), Pape Matar Sarr (Gray 90′), Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Brennan Johnson (Danso 79′), Dominic Solanke, Richarlison (Son 67′)
Substitutes: Damola Ajayi, Brandon Austin, Kevin Danson, Ben Davies, Djed Spence, Archie Gray, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert, Dane Scarlett, Son Heung-min, Matthys Tel
Man Utd: Andre Onana, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui (Dalot 85′), Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu (Mainoo 90′), Amad Diallo, Mason Mount (Garnacho 71′), Rasmus Højlund (Zirkzee 71′)
Substitutes: Harry Amass, Altay Bayindir, Tobias Collyer, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Alejandro Garnacho, Ayden Heaven, Kobbie Mainoo, Victor Lindelöf, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee
Referee – Felix Zwayer
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