In recent years, Tottenham Hotspur would have crumbled under this level of pressure.
Hampered by injuries, in terrible recent form, and up against a titan of an opponent in Manchester United, one could be forgiven for expecting a capitulation.
With their 1-0 halftime lead probably deserved, Tottenham Hotspur had a golden chance to put things out of sight early in the second 45.
Manchester United continued to press, but Tottenham Hotspur continued to hold firm, turning away wave after wave of attack.
Cross after cross continued into the Spurs penalty area, with cross after cross repelled – until one made its way through.
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Tottenham Hotspur rarely participates in a game like this.
Additionally, it’s not often that so much appears to depend on how a match turns out.
Tottenham Hotspur would have collapsed under this kind of pressure in recent years. You could be forgiven for anticipating a surrender given their recent poor performance, injuries, and matchup with Manchester United, a formidable foe.
The Lilywhites ignored all of that and put on an incredible show to win the Europa League trophy, the club’s third European trophy and first in 17 years. This team is made of stronger stuff.
As was mainly anticipated, Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs team started with Son Heung-min coming off the bench and Richarlison keeping his starting spot on the left, while Pape Matar Sarr was healthy enough to play in the third midfield position. Dane Scarlett also made an unexpected appearance after being benched after surgery in recent months, but Lucas Bergvall was not as surprised because he was unable to get back to full fitness in time for the final. However, Lenny Yoro’s injury return and Mason Mount’s selection over Manuel Ugarte or Alejandro Garnacho did come as a surprise to Ruben Amorim’s team.
Moments of quality were interspersed throughout the first half, which was a scrappy contest. After a corner, Amad Diallo flashed a shot past Guglielmo Vicario’s right-hand upright at a tight angle, and the Manchester United back three barely handled a Pedro Porro cross towards Richarlison. Spurs supporters were loud and clear in the crowd, and despite the fact that neither team looked very strong, Spurs appeared to have some control thanks to the applause from the stands.
Spurs quickly turned this control into a goal, scoring first in a sequence of events that mirrored the second half. The Senegalese midfielder ended up out wide on the left with room for a cross after Pape Matar Sarr initiated the move with a deft interception to gain possession in the press. He cut in on his right, and although the centered ball was probably underhit, Brennan Johnson attacked it and the Manchester United defense was unable to stop it. In fact, Johnson appeared to try to flick the ball back towards another attacker, but it bounced off Luke Shaw and dribbled in at the near post while Andre Onana scrambled. Spurs took a crucial lead through a messy goal that matched the messy match.
Tottenham Hotspur had a fantastic opportunity to end the game early in the second half, taking a 1-0 lead at the half that they most likely deserved. In the Spurs’ 18-yard area, Destiny Udogie deftly came across to win the ball off Diallo before charging forward. The Italian defender was sprinting towards United’s defense after a few passes, then he passed to Dominic Solanke, who was through on goal. Spurs had to reset, though, after Solanke made a bad touch.
Manchester United started to establish a strong presence in the game, possibly motivated by that break. Richarlison, who was outstanding in the first half, was substituted for Son as the Spurs attempted to escape their half. However, the Red Devils persisted in their efforts to equalize, and but for Micky van de Ven’s bravery, they almost had one. Rasmus Højlund picked up the scraps and headed the ball towards an open goal after Vicario came to claim a routine cross but lost it after colliding with Dominic Solanke. The Dutch center back for Spurs leaped high to bicycle kick the ball away from danger on the goal line just as it appeared to be headed for the back of the net.
As Spurs attempted to contain and United looked for a goal, more substitutions were made. Amorim replaced Højlund, Mount, and Patrick Dorgu with Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kobbie Mainoo. Postecoglou changed to a back three, benching Brennan Johnson in favor of Kevin Danso. Djed Spence and Archie Gray then appeared in place of Sarr and Udogie.
Despite Manchester United’s persistent pressure, Tottenham Hotspur held their ground and repelled attack after attack. Spurs fell further as the crowd’s Spurs supporters became more brazen. Neither team was pleased with the seven minutes of extra time because one of Manchester United’s employees was given a warning in the technical area. Harry Maguire and Cristian Romero were at each other’s throats, with the latter receiving a yellow card, demonstrating that chippiness on the field.
After being repelled repeatedly, cross after cross continued into the Spurs penalty area until one finally found its way through. Vicario dived to his left and made what may have been his most important save of his career after Luke Shaw launched a towering header at the ball with no time remaining. Spurs won the game and the trophy 1-0 because that was sufficient to see the game through to the end.
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