Europa League: Spurs strike first against Manchester United to gain advantage in all-English final

Tottenham Hotspur gained the advantage against Manchester United in the all-English Europa League final, courtesy of a Luke Shaw own goal.

At the end of what was, for large periods, a cagey first half of football at Bilbao’s San Mames stadium, Shaw’s own goal sent the Spurs fans into raptures as the north London club seek a first major trophy since 2008.

The breakthrough came just three minutes before the break, Pape Sarr’s teasing cross from the left dropping to Brennan Johnson at the near post.

The Wales international took a swipe but the ball skidded off his leg, bouncing up and hitting the chest of Shaw before dropping beyond the reach of United goalkeeper Andre Onana and into the net.

Ange Postecoglu and the Tottenham bench celebrate the opening goal 🤩

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It was a goal – the first for Spurs in a final since Jonathan Woodgate 17 years ago – that seemingly came out of nothing. Prior to that, the best chance of the game had fallen to the lively Amad Diallo, who, with a quarter of an hour gone, lashed a fierce drive across the face of goal from a tight angle.

But the ball evaded everyone, fizzing beyond the far post.

Diallo had looked the most dangerous player on the pitch, but it is Ange Postecoglou’s side who go into half-time with the lead.

And the promise of a trophy in the Australian’s second season still very much a possibility.

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