UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
ROUND OF 16 (1st leg)
THURSDAY 6TH MARCH, 2025
AZ ALKMAAR 1(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)

AZ scorers:-
Bergvall (o.g.), 18

Attendance:- 18,281

Referee:- Rade Obrenovic SVN
Assistants:- Jure Praprotnik & Andraz Kovacic SVN
Fourth official:- David Smajc SVN
VAR:- Alen Borosak SVN
Assistant VAR:- Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP

Teams:-
AZ (4-2-3-1):- 1. Owusu-Oduro; 16. Maikuma, 3. Goes, 5. Penetra, 18. Moller Wolfe; 8. Clasie (Capt.), 6. Koopmeiners; 21. Poku (sub 14. Belic, 81), 28. Buurmeester (sub 11. Sadiq, 81), 23. Lahdo (sub 30. Kasius, 9) (sub 26. Smit, 66); 9. Parrott (sub 78. Van Duijn, 81)

Subs not used:- 12. Verhulst, 41. Zoet (Gks); 4. Martins-Indi, 22. Dekker; 34. De Wit; 37. Daal

Booked:- Koopmeiners (foul on Spence), Poku (foul on Spence), Van Duijn (foul on Spence)

Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 24. Spence, 14. Gray, 4. Danso, 13. Udogie (sub 23. Pedro Porro, 72); 15. Bergvall, 30. Bentancur, 10. Maddison (sub 29. Sarr, 72); 22. Johnson, 11. Tel (sub 28. Odobert, 46), 7. Son (Capt.) (sub 19. Solanke, 72) (sub 44. Scarlett, 90+2)
(Armband to Vicario)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin, 41. Whiteman (GKs); 17. Romero, 37. Van de Ven; 8. Bissouma, 47. Moore

Booked:- Bentancur (foul on Parrott)

All to play for, but can Spurs play?

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for the picture

This is not a game of two halves, but a tie of two legs. Spurs lost this game because of an unfortunate own goal by Lucas Bergvall, but the margin could easily have been greater. Ex-Spur Troy Parrott had a glorious one-on-one chance only to be thwarted by Vicario's left heel. Indeed, Vicario was the busier of the two keepers, and Spurs had to defend a goalmouth scramble desperately.

Owusu-Oduro in the AZ goal was hardly tested. I can confidently say he had no serious test in the first half. Spurs have now lost 18 of their 43 games in all competitions this season. With or without injuries they can produce bad performances, and this was one of their worst of the season.

The fact is that we do have all to play for in this tie, but the question is, can we play up to the required standard? Our attempts at play-out football are atrocious and suicidal at times. Typically, one defender hits the goal kick across the goal in front of Vicario, and after another pass or two the ball is passed to a player facing towards his own goal, marked by three opponents. Spurs are simply unable to play the game this way, and you do not win games in your own half, facing the wrong way and passing the wrong way. I didn't travel, but more and more this team discourages me to contemplate such action. Our game is known so well, and for too long before the interval, virtually all players were in our half.

Ange Postecoglou made just two changes to the team which started against Manchester City with Djed Spence starting at right back in place of Pedro Porro and captain Son replacing Wilson Odobert on the left flank. Significantly, the Spurs side had 7 different starters from the side which had faced AZ at Tottenham in October. There was the welcoming sight of Romero, Van de Ven and Solanke on the bench. Only Solanke got on the pitch, but he too had to be substituted following a bad fall when challenging the keeper for a cross. Ange said he thought it was a knock, but I'm not so sure.

Spurs were still missing Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies and Richarlison, along with Radu Dragusin. AZ Alkmaar have their injury problems, and their coach Maarten Martens was unable to select Sven Mijnans, Van Bommel, Meerdink or Addai. Mijnans along with former Spur Troy Parrott had scored four Europa League goals before this game.

Both teams named two goalkeepers among their subs. Both named 11 of the 12 permitted substitutes. The AZ team had four changes compared to our October meeting.

Spurs kicked off but AZ had the early threat. Moller Wolfe crossed from the left to the near post where Parrott threatened but Vicario managed to smother the attempt. A goal kick was awarded. Lahdo was crocked following an accidental challenge by Bergvall. He tried to continue but had to be replaced by Kasius.

Kevin Danso once again played to the left of Archie Gray. After a poor ball by Danso Kasius was able to cross from the right. The ball reached Poku beyond the back post and luckily for us his cross/shot passed wide across the goalmouth.

Son did have an effort following a pass from Johnson, but his shot was blocked and looped comfortably into the goalkeeper's arms. That was one of our first half highlights folks.

Within minutes following a corner from the left, Parrott returned the ball into the middle of the area, where Bergvall in trying to clear, skewed the ball high into his own net above both Vicario and Spence.

He wasn't successful with everything he tried, but I would argue that 19-year-old Bergvall was our best player over the course of the game. He does make runs. He does make telling passes. He does work hard from box to box. Some of his team-mates were almost anonymous and I include Tel, Johnson, Maddison, and Son in that comment. Poor old Tel (he's only 19 too!) received scant service.

Bergvall sprayed a pass to Son, and he fed Udogie on the advance. He was closed down and a goal kick was the result. Spence advanced into the box on the other side and received from Johnson before his low cross was picked up by the keeper.

Parrott had another shot blocked and Poku's attempted follow-up was wide. Johnson won a corner on the right, taken by Maddison. Bergvall's shot was wide. After another excellent Bergvall pass to Son, the captain's shot was blocked on the edge of the area.

Parrott beat the offside flag when racing onto a long ball by Karius, and should have made it 2-0, but allowed Vicario to save with his left leg.

Maddison won a free kick just outside the AZ area. He had previously been fouled but Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic had allowed advantage. Maddison and Son conspired but made an utter hash of a short free kick after which the ball was wasted. It was a shocking piece of play. Quite despicable really for two experienced and very well paid professionals.

In another attack, Maddison crossed from deep on the left, and Spence fed Johnson, whose shot passed over the bar. Poku received a good ball from Parrott and the returned cross won a corner, following which an almighty goalmouth scramble took place where Vicario, Bentancur and Bergvall had vital touches.

Tel (you'll have noticed he barely had a mention in this first half report) was replaced by Odobert at half time. Odobert didn't see much of the ball either. After AZ kicked off, Spurs presented several examples of shocking play-out football and struggled to get the ball out of their own half. Bergvall did pick up a loose ball and made a bee-line for goal, but his shot curved just wide of the keeper's left post.

Son might have had a trademark goal when he cut in from the left, but his right-footed shot passed wide. Vicario saved from Poku at the other end. Poku had yet another chance after yet more poor playing out by Spurs. Luckily, he had trouble hitting the target.

Bentancur got himself booked for a foul on Troy Parrott and is therefore suspended for next week's second leg.

Our next changes introduced Pedro Porro, Sarr and Solanke. Spence took up Udogie's left back position, and I think he played better on the left.

Time was running out and Spurs had to defend well against two corners. Pedro Porro and Bentancur led a break out and Odobert had a shot from the right pushed away by Owusu-Oduro, who then collected a follow-up cross by Johnson. This was when Solanke fell painfully and had to be assisted off, rubbing his pelvis. Both sides had by now had to substitute a substitute.

In their last attempt to grab an equaliser Odobert headed over following a cross by Pedro Porro. If only they had applied themselves in the first 85 minutes to the same degree, Spurs might have got a precious draw. Obviously, the situation is redeemable next week at our stadium. I can only repeat - there is all to play for, but can Spurs play?

. John Ellis reports on a "a desperately disappointing and fractious night" at Alkmaar

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