Tottenham beat United to win first trophy since 2008

Tottenham Hotspur ended their 17-year wait for a trophy by beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final.

The win was secured by a scrappy but important goal from Brennan Johnson in the first half. This is Tottenham’s first major trophy since 2008.

The final took place in Bilbao and featured two struggling Premier League teams, with Tottenham and Manchester United sitting 16th and 17th in the league. Both teams played below their usual standards, but the importance of the match pushed the players to fight hard.

The only goal came in the 43rd minute when Johnson managed to get the ball over the line after a mistake between United’s Luke Shaw and goalkeeper Andre Onana. Tottenham’s defense stayed strong in the second half, with Dutch defender Micky van de Ven making a key clearance to stop a header from Rasmus Hojlund that could have changed the game.

Manchester United tried everything to score, including bringing on Alejandro Garnacho late in the game to add fresh energy. But Tottenham held firm. Players like Pedro Porro helped keep the Red Devils from breaking through.

The win was a big achievement for Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, who was under pressure to bring silverware in just his second season. He now has both a League Cup and a European title. For Manchester United, the loss was painful, as they finished the season without a trophy and with their worst Premier League finish in years. They will miss out on the Champions League next season.

This victory also avenged Tottenham’s loss to Manchester United in the 2009 League Cup final. It showed the strength of Postecoglou’s team, who remain unbeaten in their last six matches against United, five of which came under his leadership.