Second half replacement Son Heung-min finally filled out the last puzzle! Johnson's winning goal Tottenham wins 10 Europa League victory over Manchester United + SON's first career trophy!

May 22, 2025

Photo capture=Tottenham SNS

'Son National' Son Heung-min (Tottenham) finally finished the last puzzle.

Son Heung-min lifted the trophy he wanted so much. Tottenham won 1-0 with Brennan Johnson's winning goal in the 42nd minute in the 2024-2025 Europa League (UEL) final against Manchester United at Estadio San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, at 4 a.m. on the 22nd (Korea time). Tottenham qualified for the European Champions League next season.

Tottenham, which has been sluggish throughout this season and has missed the English Premier League (EPL), League Cup, and FA Cup, escaped from the military. Tottenham won the league cup for the first time in 17 years since lifting it in the 2007-2008 season. It was the first time in 41 years that he won the European tournament since winning the UEFA Cup in the 1983-1984 season.

Son Heung-min is also out of the king of no spectatorship. Son Heung-min is undoubtedly a "world class". In addition to being the first Asian to become the top scorer in the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2021-2022 season, he won the FIFA (International Football Federation) Puskas Award, the EPL Player of the Month Award, and the Asia Award, which is given to the player who scored the best goal of the year in 2020. Including the awards that were not listed, he has had a brighter career than anyone else.

The only thing that Son Heung-min doesn't have is the trophy. He has enjoyed the best stages in the world, including the German Bundesliga, EPL, UCL, and FIFA World Cup, but has never been at the top. The gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games is the only winning record. However, the Asian Games are not organized by FIFA. He reached the final of the UCL 2020-2021 League Cup in the 2018-2019 season, but all finished second. Son Heung-min has finally won more trophies in his career.

Son Heung-min said before the game "I've been talking for years, but the reason I stayed at Tottenham was because I wanted to do things that others couldn't do. You need all the pieces to make a puzzle. I think all the pieces were right, but in the end, the last piece, which is the most important, seems to be lacking. I think I've been wandering around for 10 years after finding that piece, and I hope I can do that puzzle this time"I was determined, and I completed the puzzle.

Son Heung-min was deployed in the 21st minute of the second half and stepped on the ground. He contributed to Tottenham's victory with a dedicated move. Son Heung-min has 173 goals and 101 assists in 453 Tottenham games. Tottenham ranks fifth in the most appearances in history, fourth in the most goals scored, and first in the most assists. Son Heung-min, who rose to the rank of legend with his record alone, solidified his position as a living legend for Tottenham with this victory.

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Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou made changes to the starting list. Son Heung-min, who returned from injury, was placed on the bench. Son Heung-min, who collapsed due to an injury in the first leg of the UEL quarterfinals against Frankfurt on the 11th of last month, missed seven consecutive games. The possibility of being out for the season was also raised. But I didn't give up. Son Heung-min, who has steadily built up, returned to the EPL in the 36th round of the EPL against Crystal Palace in the 13th minute of the second half, and was listed in the starting lineup in the 37th round against Aston Villa on the 17th. After 74 minutes of playing on the ground, he announced that he had recovered his normal condition.

Son Heung-min is likely to start this final. James Medicine and Dejan Kulusevski collapsed due to injuries, making Son Heung-min's value of 'Veteran' who can put creative key passes even greater. Not to mention scoring ability. Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou said after the match against Aston Villa that Son is ready to play in the UEL final. I'm ready to start." The Telegraph and Football London also claimed that Son should start to give him a chance to become a legend.

However, Postecoglou had a different opinion. As expected by the BBC, Son Heung-min was excluded from the starting list. Tottenham played in a 4-3-3 formation. Dominic Solanke, Hishalisson and Brennan Johnson made the three-top. Papesar, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur matched the midfield. Destiny Udogi, Mickey Panderpen, Christian Romero and Pedro Porpo were among the four backs. The goal was guarded by Guglielmo Vicario.

사진=맨유 SNS 캡처

United fought back with a 3-4-2-1 formation. Rasmus Hoyleun stood at the front line, and Mason Mount and Ahmad Diallo sat on the second line. The midfield was formed by Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. The wing-backs were Petrick Dorgu and Nusair Mazrawisa, while the three-backs were Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Lenny Yoro. The goalkeeper's gloves were on Andre Onana.

An early error ensued. In the third minute of the first half, Manchester United took the opportunity first. Fernandes' free-kick headed for Maguire's head. Tottenham's defense failed to clear it properly and gave up a corner kick. In the fourth minute, a ball that goalkeeper Vicario could not handle properly was connected to Fernandez. Fernandez even connected with a left footed shot, but came out after facing defense.

Tottenham, which had been pressed by Manchester United's momentum, changed the flow of eight minutes. The prisoner made a sharp early cross. He headed for Hishalisson, but Manchester United's defense cleared it first.

In the 10th minute, Maguire's clearing error was intercepted, creating an opportunity. Johnson tried a cutback after breaking down the right flank. The ball was blocked by the opponent's defense and connected to Bissouma, who was in front of the arc. Sarr's shot came off the defense. He then created a series of chances, including free kicks and corner kicks, but was blocked by the Manchester United defense's hand-to-hand defense.

Fifteen minutes United fought back. Dorgu, who received Maguire's pass, dug into the back space. I tried to cut back by sliding. Romero blocked it. Diallo caught the ball flowing from the subsequent corner kick, beat one defense, and connected it with a powerful right foot kick. It didn't touch the Manchester United players and went outside. In the 21st minute, the ball that led to Mazraoui-Fernandez headed for the gate, but goalkeeper Vicario caught it well.

In the 29th minute, Diallo beat Udogi for a sharp cross. Tottenham's defense managed to clear it. In the process, Romero complained of shock after being hit by Hoyleun's elbow. In the 34th minute, Diallo, who was blocking Udo-gi's breakthrough, was warned. 39 min Diallo hit a left footed shot after beating a defender. The goalkeeper caught it easily.

Tottenham scored the first goal. 42 min Tottenham made a linked play from the left. Hishalisson's penetrating pass headed to Bentancur, who was digging to the left of the box. Bentancur handed it to Sarr, who was on the left. The ball that Sarr put up with his right foot headed for Johnson, who was jumping in. Johnson's shot hit Shaw's arm and crossed the goal line as it passed goalkeeper Onana.

Manchester United launched a counterattack. 44 min Fernandes fired a sharp shot, but Tottenham's defence blocked it. In the end, the first half ended with Tottenham's 1-0 lead.

Photo capture=Tottenham SNS

Manchester United's offensive was strong in the second half. Diallo's cross headed to Hoyleun's head in the second minute of the second half. But it didn't fit properly. The game got rough and rough. 12 min In the process of blocking Mazraoui's breakthrough, Hishalisson was warned.

Fernandez's sharp kick headed to the near post in the ensuing free kick situation. Yoro threw himself away, but Vicario managed to hit it. 16 min Dorgu, who broke down the left, tried to cut back. The ball connected to Diallo, who was digging into the center. However, Diallo couldn't shoot right away, and he tried to shoot after the breakthrough, but he came out after hitting the defense.

Tottenham, which overcame the crisis, immediately launched a counterattack. Hishalisson and Solanke headed to Manchester United's gate, exchanging balls. Solanke, who received a decisive pass from Hishalisson, failed to touch the goalkeeper properly as soon as he tried to take the opportunity to face the goalkeeper.

Hishalisson, who was struggling on the left, collapsed complaining of pain in his ankle. Son Heung-min was put in place in the 21st minute of the second half. The game got fiercer. 22 min Bissouma was warned.

The free kick that followed immediately came up as normal. But Vicario couldn't catch it and headed to Hoyleun. Hoylun attempted a header with an empty net. But Van der Penn saved the goal with a fantastic clearance.

Photo capture= Europa League SNS

25 min Man U made a difference. With Mount and Hoylun removed, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkji added. In the 26th minute, Mazraoui's sharp cross from the right connected to Fernandez, who was alone at the gate. Fernandez's header of the conversion went off the post.

In the 28th minute, Garnacho fired a threatening shot. He broke through the left and tried to shoot with his right foot. Vicario saved it nicely. Soon after, Son Heung-min counterattacked, but Dorgu saved it with a nice tackle.

Coach Postecoglou took the winning move. 33 min Without Johnson, Kevin Danso was put in to lock down. Manchester United went on a wave of attacks, and Tottenham followed. 36 min Tottenham launched a counterattack. Solanke, who received a pass from the prisoner, broke down the right side with a personal talent. He then poked a pass at Son Heung-min, who was penetrating into the center. Mazraoui cleared it with a tackle before Son Heung-min caught it.

In the 38th minute, Zirkji, who was trying to stop Udogi's breakthrough, was warned. United immediately took out Mazraoui and put Diogo Dalot in. Son Heung-min scored a sharp free kick. Danso jumped in and reached out, but it did not lead to a shot.

Manchester United went into a last-minute all-out war with Maguire in front. Maguire was warned of unnecessary contact. 44 min Tottenham strengthened their defense even more. With the exception of Udo and Sarr, Jed Spence and Archie Gray were put in. Manchester United also put Kobe Mainu instead of Dorgu.

The extra time was given seven minutes. United took a long kick at Maguire. 47 min Maguire's header went off the post. 51 min Vicario saved the crucial header of the final show. Tottenham saved the last chance for a corner kick, which included Onana, and the game ended with Tottenham's 1-0 victory.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.