Tottenham Hotspur end their 2024/25 campaign with a 1-4 defeat to Brighton. Despite leading at half-time, Spurs conceded four in the second half, sealing a season that saw the Lilywhites suffer twice as many defeats as wins.
17 years without a trophy, and they finally lift one while sitting 17th in the league? You really couldn’t script it better.
Many Spurs fans will tell themselves this was a meaningless game, that it didn’t matter after the Europa League glory. But deep down, they would’ve wanted to finish this bitter season on a high, especially with a trophy presentation waiting post-match. It would’ve tasted sweeter after a win.
It’s been a busy few days since that night in Bilbao. The celebrations, the flight home, more celebrations and then the parade. You’d almost forget there was a Premier League fixture squeezed in three days later.
As for the starting XI, Ange Postecoglou just managed to pick 11 players who weren’t hungover. It was largely the same team that started the final. Only Cristian Romero, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison dropped out, replaced by Kevin Danso, Archie Gray and Mathys Tel.
First half: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Brighton
N17 was in party mode, the Europa League trophy was in the building, the fans were loud, and the players just needed to feed off that energy.
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Brighton, though, had the first warning shot through Adingra, who fired well wide after being released by Minteh early on. Spurs responded with an awkward yet successful passage between Brennan Johnson and Archie Gray, but the youngster lost control on the edge of the Brighton box.
Tottenham nearly opened the scoring from a superb Tel corner that only needed a touch from Micky van de Ven or Dominic Solanke. However, neither could do that.
Tel then curled one towards the far post, only for Van Hecke to block it. Mats Wieffer, on the other end, went close for Brighton soon after, before Spurs took the lead.
Mathys Tel was heavily involved in the opening quarter and looked the most dangerous player on the pitch. His threat eventually earned Spurs a penalty after he was fouled by Wieffer inside the box. Dominic Solanke stepped up and calmly slotted the ball in off the underside of the crossbar. 1-0 to Spurs.
Rodrigo Bentancur ran the show in midfield. From spotting Tel’s runs to playing perfect passes under pressure, he looked like the pre-ACL injury Bentancur we missed.
Hinshelwood tested Guglielmo Vicario with a strong header at the half-hour mark, but the Italian was equal to it. Tel had a golden opportunity to double the lead before half time after being fed brilliantly by Pedro Porro on a counter, but Verbruggen denied his weak left footed shot.
Statistically, Spurs were in control: an xG of 1.47 to Brighton’s 0.36 summed up the half. A good half of football so far.
Brighton
Photo by SpursWeb
Second half: Tottenham Hotspur 1-4 Brighton
The last time Spurs led Brighton at half-time, it didn’t end well. This one? Even worse.
Just five minutes after the restart, a corner caused chaos in the box. The ball bounced off Solanke and fell to Hinshelwood, who lashed it into the roof of the net. 1-1.
Gruda and Gomez nearly made it 2-1, hardly two minutes later, only to be denied by Vicario. Spurs then almost regained the lead through a sweeping counter. Tel made an impressive run down the left and squared it to Brennan Johnson, but the Welshman’s finish scuffed wide.
With the score tied and European football at stake for the Seagulls, it had become a very congested Spurs box for a good 15 minutes. A couple of chances fell for Brighton amidst all that as Vicario made a stunning save from Minteh, which was destined for the roof of the net. Then Baleba hit the left-hand post with a powerful low shot from distance.
And then, another corner and another goal. Spurs didn’t clear their lines, and Hinshelwood was again the man on the spot, this time backheeling past Vicario. 1-2.
With the lead, the Seagulls went quiet for 15 minutes before having another chance; again, from a corner. Gomez made contact, but Vicario saved it well.
Brighton’s third eventually arrived, via a penalty. Udogie was caught too high up the pitch, winger Djed Spence was jogging back, and Bissouma, who was trying to cover, brought down Gomez. You couldn’t blame him. Matt O’Riley stepped up and buried it.
Any hope of a comeback vanished in stoppage time. Mitoma teed up Diego Gomez, who curled in an insane finish from range. It was 1-4, and yet the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sang “Oh when the Spurs go marching in”. They knew it was never about this match.
FT: TOTTENHAM 1-4 BRIGHTON
Spurs Web man of the match: Rodrigo Bentancur
What’s next for the champions of Europe?
It’s fair to say, it’s very ironic that the Champions League and the Championship are separated by just one place. But that’s what makes this season special for Spurs fans: four clubs below the third position battled their hearts out today for Champions League spots, while a certain club enjoys the same privilege while sat at 17th.
That’s football.
With this rollercoaster of a season now come to an end, it’s time to reassess this entire season. It’s hard to really point out why Ange Postecoglou’s men aren’t able to play in the Premier League the same way they play in cup football.
Yes, without a doubt, he deserves another season, and probably with a really good summer transfer window, upgrading the medical team (equally important) and getting a few set-piece experts on board, it would be hard to see them not do well next season.
Until then, enjoy your summers without those trophyless memes and get used to hearing the UCL anthem. COYS.
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