UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
ROUND OF 16 (2nd leg)
THURSDAY 13TH MARCH, 2025
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(1) AZ ALKMAAR 1(0)
(Spurs won 3-2 on aggregate)
Spurs scorers:-
Odobert, 26, 74
Maddison, 48
AZ scorer:-
Koopmeiners, 63
Attendance:- 58,302
Referee:- Joao Pinheiro POR
Assistants:- Bruno Jesus & Luciano Maia POR
Fourth official:- Joao Goncalves POR
VAR:- Tiago Martins POR
Assistant VAR:- Bastian Dankert GER
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero, 37. Van de Ven (sub 14. Gray, 61), 24. Spence; 29. Sarr, 15. Bergvall (sub , 33. Davies, 85), 10. Maddison (sub 8. Bissouma, 77); 28. Odobert (sub 22. Johnson, 78), 19. Solanke, 7. Son (Capt.)
Subs not used:- 40. Austin, 41. Whiteman (Gks); 13. Udogie; 47. Moore; 11. Tel, 44. Scarlett
No bookings
AZ Alkmaar (4-3-3):- 1. Owusu-Oduro; 16. Maikuma (35. Meerdink, 80), 3. Goes (sub 14. Belic, 87), 5. Penetra, 18. Moller Wolfe; 8. Clasie (Capt.), 28. Buurmeester (sub 26. Smit, 68), 6. Koopmeiners; 11. Sadiq (sub 34. De Wit, 46), 9. Parrott, 21. Poku
Subs not used:- 12. Verhulst, 41. Zoet (Gks); 4. Martins Indi, 22. Dekker; 52. Dijkstra, 78. Van Duijn; 49. Bouziane
Booked:- Clasie (Dissent)
Positive football leads to Spurs success
Thanks to Greg Smith for this picture
Perhaps Ange Postecoglou has been building towards this night for ages. For the first time since 8th December, he was able to start Romero and Van de Ven together. His "leadership team" of Vicario, Romero, Maddison, and Son hadn't started together since the 4-1 win over West Ham on 19th October. That was 33 games ago!
It's been a long hard winter, and this win was not easy, as we began one down and faced a team for whom this was also a win or bust game. Spurs played very positive football, with few blemishes and earned their place in April's quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt who had earlier disposed of Ajax.
Wilson Odobert, who has also missed so much of the season, scored his first two Spurs goals, and indeed his first European goals. Wilson's second came at the end of a great team move and finally took the wind out of the Dutch AZ Alkmaar's sails.
Postecoglou fielded 10 subs and was missing the banned Bentancur along with the injured Danso, Kulusevski and Richarlison.
AZ coach Maarten Martens had additional injury problems with both Lahdo and his replacement last week Kasius injured. Both had caused us grief down the right wing.
There was a great atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with the crowd baying for success from the outset after the usual light show, and trumpet-led chorus of "Oh when the Spurs." Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand where plenty of red and white away scarves were being waved.
Micky van de Ven hit an early long ball, but Spence overhit his pass to Son. A lot of Spurs' first half play was down this flank and ultimately paid dividends. We enjoyed some good early possession, but without a telling pass. A Maddison cross into the danger zone was cleared.
A Son cross for Solanke was cleared. Van de Ven's determination won the ball back and he sent Spence away, who won a corner on the left. A couple of early line and corner calls went against Spurs.
Bergvall flowed and flowered in midfield. After he sent Son forward, the goalkeeper punched clear the dangerous cross.
AZ had a free kick outside the box after a foul by Romero. Koopmeiners was the taker, but a goal kick ensued.
Spurs took the lead after their pressure deep down the left flank led to an error by Goes. The ball rebounded off Son into the middle where Solanke turned the ball to Odobert who fired home into the roof of the net with a left-footed shot! The tie was levelled.
Spence won the ball again, but his cross was cleared. Son picked up a ball on the left and cut inside. His right-footed shot was on target but comfortable for Owusu-Oduro.
At the other end, after a Maddison foul on Sadiq, Spurs cleared, but there had also been an offside. Son had another shot blocked after receiving from Bergvall. Lucas followed up, but his shot went over the far corner of the goal.
Spence overran the ball in our half and after a deep cross, Sadiq overhit his attempt. Odobert had a shot go over after another Son effort had been blocked.
Spurs were finally guilty of poor play-out football which gave Buurmeester a chance, thankfully wide. Pedro Porro won a free kick at the other end, taken by Maddison, but that was deflected, and nothing came of the corner.
Martens replaced Sadiq with De Wit at half-time and AZ started well. Vicario managed to clear the ball for a throw having been put under pressure by an overhit Romero back pass.
Spurs eased the pressure and took the lead for the first time after Odobert carried the ball forward from the right and passed to Maddison. James passed outside to Son, who returned it to the middle where Maddison took an instant to think before scoring with his right foot to the left of the keeper. This was Maddison's eleventh goal of the season.
Now we had a proper cup-tie "do or die" situation. AZ responded and Troy Parrott had a shot blocked. Son and Spence combined again down the left side before Son's shot passed just outside the keeper's right post. Both Solanke and Odobert won further corners for Spurs.
Micky van de Ven made a perfect challenge in his area to deny the ball to Poku. A Clasie shot skimmed the outside of the Spurs post. Postecoglou is nursing Van de Ven, who was relieved by Archie Gray.
Pedro Porro sliced a shot and after a mazy run, Son's dribble came to an end.
The tie was levelled again after a mix-up at the back between Bergvall and Odobert which allowed Koopmeiners to take advantage and score. Buurmeester was replaced by Smit who had a chance with his first touch, but Spurs managed to clear their lines.
Spurs wasted a free kick after a foul on Spence when Son overhit his cross. Son had a shot blocked after Pedro Porro crossed from the other side. Spurs regained the lead with a great team goal. Here was an occasion when "Ange-ball" worked. The ball was moved forward in our half on the left and passed inside to Maddison, who carried it into the AZ half before feeding the ball to Spence. He in turn sent the ball forward to Son whose low cross was flicked on by Solanke into the path of Odobert, who scored from close range.
There was drama in front of the Spurs goal when Parrott collected Clasie's pass and fired low where Vicario made a great save. De Wit followed up, but Bissouma blocked. That was as close as AZ came to taking the tie to extra time, much as they tried. Meerdink headed over immediately after replacing Maikuma as AZ put everything into attack.
Ben Davies replaced a tiring Bergvall to reinforce the back line with Archie Gray moving into midfield. Smit hit the side netting after a cross by Poku. Spence and Sarr defended stoutly against De Wit.
Finally, after four minutes of added time the Portuguese referee (who booked no-one except Clasie after the whistle) indicated full-time and we could celebrate a win that keeps Spurs season, and the dream of European glory alive.
The path to the final was clearly indicated when the play-off round draw took place, and Spurs will be at home in the first leg of the quarter-final against Frankfurt on April 10th.
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
