Tottenham Hotspur ended their long trophy drought in style on Wednesday night, clinching the Europa League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao. A first-half goal from Brennan Johnson and a crucial defensive clearance by Micky van de Ven sealed the club’s first silverware since 2008, fulfilling manager Ange Postecoglou’s promise to bring trophies back to north London.

Spurs’ triumph brought a bright conclusion to what had been a challenging season. Johnson’s decisive strike in the opening half proved enough to edge out Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side, earning Tottenham their first major trophy in 17 years and securing a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The all-Premier League final began with decent energy, but the quality gradually ebbed away, reflecting the teams’ lowly league positions of 16th and 17th. The breakthrough arrived in the 43rd minute when Pape Matar Sarr whipped in a dangerous ball towards Johnson near the United goal. The Welsh winger’s presence unsettled Luke Shaw, who failed to clear properly, allowing Johnson to bundle the ball past Andre Onana.

The second half was disjointed, with neither team able to sustain momentum. However, United came close to equalising when Guglielmo Vicario mishandled a cross that fell to Rasmus Hojlund. The striker’s looping header seemed destined for the net before Micky van de Ven executed a stunning acrobatic clearance to preserve Tottenham’s lead.

The final 20 minutes saw increased pressure from United after Alejandro Garnacho’s introduction. The young Argentine winger immediately tested Pedro Porro but was ultimately contained as Spurs defended resolutely. Postecoglou’s side held firm until the final whistle, proving his reputation right — he truly does deliver trophies in his second season.

GOAL’s Tottenham Player Ratings from Estadio San Mames:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Guglielmo Vicario (7/10):

Had a few nervous moments, including nearly gifting Hojlund an equaliser, but produced vital saves, including a late stop from Luke Shaw.

Pedro Porro (6/10):

Delivered an early dangerous cross but struggled to contain Garnacho once he entered the game.

Cristian Romero (7/10):

Dominant in aerial duels and alert in clearing threats whenever they arose.

Micky van de Ven (7/10):

Produced an extraordinary clearance that effectively secured the win for Spurs in the second half.

Destiny Udogie (5/10):

Endured a tough evening against Amad but redeemed himself with a crucial tackle inside the box that launched a counter-attack.

Midfield

Pape Matar Sarr (7/10):

Delivered the cross that created the winning goal and maintained solid control in midfield throughout the match.

Yves Bissouma (6/10):

Showed determination in midfield battles but lost composure after picking up a needless booking.

Rodrigo Bentancur (6/10):

Disrupted several United attacks and distributed the ball effectively from deep positions.

Attack

Brennan Johnson (7/10):

His goal wasn’t the prettiest, but it proved priceless as he etched his name into Spurs folklore.

Dominic Solanke (4/10):

Provided an aerial presence but was wasteful in possession, repeatedly conceding the ball.

Richarlison (6/10):

Started brightly with an early shot and cross blocked, while also tracking back diligently to help defensively.

Substitutes & Manager

Son Heung-min (5/10):

Came on for the injured Richarlison with 25 minutes left but failed to make an impact as United dominated possession late on.

Kevin Danso (6/10):

Contributed with a vital defensive header during the closing stages.

Archie Gray (N/A):

Made a brief appearance near the end of the match.

Djed Spence (N/A):

Introduced during stoppage time to run down the clock.

Ange Postecoglou (8/10):

It wasn’t a display of beautiful football, but it was effective. His tactical setup limited United’s chances and delivered long-awaited success in a difficult season for both him and his players.