SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- For the first time in his 15-year European career, Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean captain Son Heung-min can finally call himself a champion.
Tottenham defeated fellow Premier League side Manchester United 1-0 in the final of the UEFA Europa League at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday (local time). Brennan Johnson scored the match's only goal in the 42nd minute and Spurs held on tenaciously for their first trophy in 17 years.
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| Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur (L) battles Leny Yoro of Manchester United for the ball during the UEFA Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21, 2025, in this Associated Press photo. (Yonhap) |
Son, who replaced Richarlison in the 67th minute, lifted the first trophy of his club career, which began in 2010 with Hamburger SV in Germany.
Son joined Spurs in 2015. He had played and lost in two major finals with the North London club -- at the 2019 UEFA Champions League and the 2021 English Football League (EFL) Cup. The team's most recent trophy before this week had come at the 2008 EFL Cup.
Johnson put Spurs on the board late in the first half when his shot, set up by a Pape Sarr cross, deflected off defender Luke Shaw on its way into the net.
Man United kept pushing for the equalizer that never came, as Spurs successfully locked things down in their own end in the second half.
Spurs dodged a couple of bullets. Defender Micky van de Ven cleared the ball heading into the gaping net with a dramatic volley above the goal line in the 68th minute. In the dying seconds, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made a match-saving stop on a header by Shaw.
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| Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur (R) is challenged by Patrick Dorgu of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21, 2025, in this Associated Press photo. (Yonhap) |
- Yoo Jee-ho
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