AZ Alkmaar have tightened their grip on their UEFA Europa League (UEL) round of 16 tie after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the AFAS Stadion. The result extends Alkmaar’s impressive home record in the competition, as they are now unbeaten in 13 consecutive UEL matches on their turf. With Spurs desperately chasing silverware, this defeat adds further pressure on Ange Postecoglou’s men ahead of the second leg in London.
A Slow Start for Spurs as Alkmaar Takes the Lead
Tottenham came into the match knowing that the Europa League represents their best chance of ending a 17-year trophy drought. Having beaten Alkmaar 1-0 in the group stages, Spurs were expected to put up a strong challenge. However, the first half proved to be a frustrating affair for the English side.
The Dutch hosts suffered an early setback when Mayckel Lahdo was forced off with an injury inside the opening 10 minutes. His replacement, Denso Kasius, slotted in seamlessly, as Alkmaar maintained their attacking intent. The breakthrough came in a rather fortunate manner for AZ, as a corner kick found former Tottenham academy player Troy Parrott at the back post. His weak attempt on goal was inadvertently turned in by Lucas Bergvall, handing the Dutch side a crucial lead.
Tottenham struggled to respond to any real threat. While Brennan Johnson and Bergvall had half-chances, they failed to trouble Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro in the Alkmaar goal. At the other end, Alkmaar looked the more dangerous side, with Ernest Poku narrowly missing the target and Guglielmo Vicario making a crucial save to deny Parrott from doubling the advantage.
Second Half: Tottenham’s Struggles Continue
After the interval, Spurs attempted to shift gears, registering the first two shots of the half. However, neither effort troubled the Alkmaar goalkeeper. Instead, the Dutch side quickly regained control, and Poku came close to extending the lead with a low drive that Vicario did well to palm away.
With their narrow advantage, Alkmaar became slightly more cautious as they sought to protect their lead. However, Tottenham’s attack remained largely toothless. The visitors failed to register a single shot on target until late in the game, summing up a poor display from Postecoglou’s side.
Can Spurs Turn It Around?
Tottenham must now regroup and produce a far superior performance in the return leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While a 1-0 deficit is not insurmountable, their display in Alkmaar raises serious concerns. They lacked creativity, urgency, and sharpness in front of goal—issues that must be addressed if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.
For AZ Alkmaar, this victory is a significant step towards the next stage of the competition. Their home form has been outstanding, and they will look to complete the job in London. If they can replicate their disciplined and energetic performance, they stand a strong chance of upsetting the Premier League giants.
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Stay tuned for the second leg as Spurs aim to overturn their deficit and keep their Europa League hopes alive!