Philip Morrissey
Wed, May 21 2025
Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Brennan Johnson 42’)
Manchester United 0
Brennan Johnson struck late in the first half to finally secure silverware for Spurs after 17 years. It was a scrappy effort in a game devoid of much quality, but they and their fans will care little. A dogged, battling showing in defence helped them over the line and into paradise at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
It was a game that the players and fans of Manchester United will wonder how they lost. They dominated possession for the majority of the second half and created the better of the few chances in the game. Yet again finishing was their Achilles heel and too many failed to show up when needed.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was hampered by the loss of several key midfielders. Pape Saar was selected as the most advanced of the three ahead of Rodriygo Bentancur and Yvess Bissouma. Richarlison was surprisingly named ahead of Son in attack. Ruben Amorim was able to welcome back Leny Yoro in defence and he took his place at left centre back. Mason Mount was rewarded for his display off the bench in the semi-final ahead of Alejandro Garnacho.
It was a curiously low-key opening quarter to the game. Both sides were aware of the importance of the encounter at hand and not willing to commit too many in attack. Tottenham posed questions on set pieces that required Andre Onana to come out and punch on a few occasions. They also aimed to isolate both Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire on the ball. One such movement necessitated a block to deny Brennan Johnson and then Pape Sarr.
United struggled to create much at the other end. Amad flashed a shot across the area after a clever set up from Bruno Fernandes. The United captain then put in a low cross in the direction of Rasmus Hojlund who was behind the ball.
Amad seemed to be the one bright spark in the United attack but did not see enough of the ball. A scrappy display from both sides was characterised by niggly fouls and misplaced passes.
Just as it seemed the game was drifting to a goalless half, Spurs struck for the lead four minutes before the break. Pape Sarr was afforded room to cross out from the left. It was directed to Johnson who mishit his effort. It deflected off Shaw who was marking him and drifted back to Johnson who directed it over the line. It may have gone down as an own goal for the England defender.
The quality of football did not improve drastically into the second half unfortunately. The scrappy, disruptive nature doing more benefit to Tottenham than the players in red. Dominic Solanke was the sole player in the United half as Spurs set about to hold what they had. Bissouma attempted to find the striker in a rare break, but overhit the pass.
Guglielmo Vicario almost gifted Man Utd an equaliser with 20 minutes to go. He rushed out to claim a cross that he missed completely. Hojlund headed goalwards only for Micky van de Ven to somehow clear off the line. The keeper did better when getting down to save from substitute Alejandro Garnacho. Pedro Porro was the next player to be worried as it appeared the referee pointed to the spot after a tackle on Shaw. It was a goal kick instead.
Instead, the pragmatic approach helped wind down the clock as they withstood all the pressure in front of them. Van de Ven and Christian Romero proving to be a solid and gritty barrier whenever their goal area was threatened.
Tottenham fans had their heart in their throats in the final minute as Vicario saved excellently from Shaw’s header. Casemiro’s bicycle kick then rippled the net, but it was only the side netting.
Relief and delight on the final whistle. Vindication for Postecoglou and his second-year trophy success. They can look forward to Champions League football next season and a meeting against either PSG or Inter Milan in the Super Cup. Whether he stays or leaves, he has now delivered the goods.
For Manchester United, it is a crushing end to a terrible season. All hopes had been resting on this with their poor league record. Rumoured signings are now unlikely to happen given the lack of European football. It will be a long hard summer for them.
Tottenham: Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro Sauceda, Cristian Romero, Iyenoma Udogie (Djed Spence 90), Micky van de Ven; Rodrigo Bentancur Colmán, Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr (Archie Gray 90); Brennan Johnson (Kevin Danso 79), Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva, Dominic Solanke-Mitchell, Richarlison (Heung-Min Son 67).
Subs not used: Brandon Austin, Alfie Whiteman, , Benjamin Davies, Dane Scarlett, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, Mathys Tel, Oyindamola Ajayi.
Booked: Micky van de Ven (49), Richarlison (57), Yves Bissouma (68),
Manchester United: André Onana; Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Noussair Mazraoui (Diogo Dalot 85), Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu (Kobbie Mainoo 90), Amad Diallo Traoré, Mason Mount (Alejandro Garnacho 71); Rasmus Winther Højlund (Joshua Zirkzee 71).
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir, Victor Lindelöf, Jonathan Evans, Tobias Collyer, Christian Dannemann Eriksen, AydenHeaven, Manuel Ugarte, Harry Amass.
Booked: Amad Diallo (35), Joshua Zirkzee (84), Harry Maguire (86), Jonny Evans (90+1)
Referee: Felix Zwayer
Attendance: 49,924
extratime.com Player of the Match: Micky van de Ven (Spurs)
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— extratime.com (@extratime.com) 21 May 2025 at 23:19