Tottenham Hotspur clinched their first major European trophy in over four decades after defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday night in Bilbao, Spain.
The only goal of the match came in the 42nd minute when an attempted clearance from Manchester United defender Luke Shaw deflected into his own net following a mis-hit shot from Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson.
The own goal proved decisive as the North London side held firm under pressure to secure the win.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou praised his players’ resilience, saying, “This is the kind of night you remember forever. We’ve come through a lot this season, and the boys showed heart and maturity tonight.”
Manchester United dominated possession throughout the match but failed to convert their chances, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario making a string of vital saves to keep Tottenham’s lead intact.
Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven also came to the rescue with a crucial goal-line clearance in the second half.
The result marks Tottenham’s first European title since winning the UEFA Cup in 1984, while the defeat caps a disappointing season for Manchester United, who now miss out on European football next season.