Tottenham Hotspur stayed in Europa League contention with a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their last-16 tie, completing a 3-2 aggregate triumph. It was a night of rehabilitation for Ange Postecoglou’s men, whose much-improved performance came after their disappointing first-leg defeat in the Netherlands.
The hero for Spurs was Wilson Odobert, who netted twice, joining James Maddison on the scoresheet in an electric showing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And, at times, unnecessarily so as the Premier League side held firm to seal a quarter-final meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt despite a defensive lapse that provided AZ midfielder Peer Koopmeiners hope.
A Response to Remember
Frustrated at the 1-0 loss in the first leg, Tottenham were under pressure to deliver, with reports that the club hierarchy found their previous display “unacceptable.” Whether or not Postecoglou’s job was ever really on the line, the Australian knew that his side had to deliver — and deliver they did.
Spurs pressed high from the start, pushing AZ back early on. The visitors simply could not handle Tottenham’s unending energy and it was only a matter of time before they succumbed to it.
Odobert Sparkles As Spurs Come Back To Take The Tie
They finally got the breakthrough in the 26th minute as Odobert took advantage of a defensive collapse from AZ. A clearance from Wouter Goes ricocheted off Son Heung-min and fell invitingly in front of Dominic Solanke. The striker selflessly squared the ball to Odobert, who finished clinically into the top corner.
The goal not only put Spurs ahead on the night but also restored parity in the tie, sending the home crowd into raptures.
The momentum followed into the second half and only three minutes after the restart, Tottenham seized control of the aggregate scoreline. Odobert was involved again as Nice countered, allowing Son to get down the left wing. Picking out Maddison, the Spurs skipper took a touch before curling home a shot into the bottom corner.
Spurs were cruising at 2-0 but after a moment of defensive calamity AZ were gifted a lifeline. In the 63rd minute, Odobert intercepted a pass that Lucas Bergvall had tried to steer back to Cristian Romero and slid forward until the ball reached Koopmeiners’s feet, and then fired past Guglielmo Vicario. The goal brought the score to 2-1 for the night and 2-2 on aggregate, promising a tense finish to the final 30 minutes.
Odobert Deals the Coup de Grâce
With the nerves creeping in, Spurs required one more moment of quality to put the tie beyond doubt — and they provided it in style.
The final goal, in the 74th minute, was everything Postecoglou wants from his team. Maddison played out from the back, showing his skill with a lovely turn before surging on. Djed Spence was the man to set it in motion, cutting back to Solanke, who scored with an audacious backheel assist. Odobert was ideally placed to tap home again at the back post, sealing a famous European night for Tottenham.
It was the French winger’s second goal of the evening, capping a stellar performance that earned him Man of the Match honors. His two goals and dribbling ability and attacking threat made him the best player on the field.
Tottenham Face Defensive Though Postecoglou will have relished Tottenham’s attacking play, he would also have been all too aware that it can still be painfully vulnerable at the back. AZ’s goal came via a sloppy error, and that was far from the only time the Dutch side nearly capitalized on Spurs’ mistakes.
Micky van de Ven was again vital with his speed in snuffing out a dangerous AZ attack, and even a late goal-line block by Yves Bissouma made sure there would be no dramatic equalizer at all. However, Spurs will need to tighten up their belt at the back if they intend to go all the way as the competition progresses.
What’s Next?
Tottenham now focus on the league once more, having a tricky trip back to Fulham to contend too this Sunday before the international break. With the top four looking less and less likely, Postecoglou may well consider the Europa League his best opportunity to finally end Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought.
AZ, meanwhile, will have to recover fast ahead of a tough Eredivisie matchup against league leaders Ajax in Amsterdam.
For now, though, Spurs fans can fantasize. They face Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals and that should be another blood-and-thunder encounter, and with Lazio or Bodo/Glimt potentially waiting in the last four, Postecoglou’s second-season prop
October 7, frozen pizza prophecy dangerous of silverware remains very much alive.
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