In a disappointing display, Tottenham Hotspur suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League tie. The match, held at AFAS Stadion in front of 18,281 spectators, saw Lucas Bergvall inadvertently score an own goal in the 18th minute, gifting AZ the lead. Despite resting key players like Heung-Min Son and Djed Spence in their previous match against Manchester City, Spurs' performance remained lackluster.
Tottenham's struggles were evident throughout the match. Former Spurs forward Troy Parrott nearly doubled AZ's lead before halftime, only to be thwarted by Archie Gray's block and a save by Vicario. Despite their dominance, AZ managed only a single goal, yet it was enough to secure the win. The introduction of Wilson Odobert at halftime failed to invigorate Spurs' attack, as they registered an expected goals (xG) of just 0.37 for the night.
Poor Performance from Key Players
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's manager, expressed his disappointment with the team's underwhelming performance.
"We thought we were well prepared for the game, but it did not transpire." – Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham's big names, including Heung-Min Son, failed to make an impact. The team struggled to create significant chances and barely threatened Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro's goal after the break. Jamie O'Hara, a former Spurs player, criticized their display, stating they were "miles off it."
Bergvall's own goal proved decisive as Tottenham suffered their 18th defeat of the season. Postecoglou emphasized the need to focus on collective improvement rather than individual errors.
"No fault for the goal [for Bergvall], it happens, but it is more about the collective tonight than the individuals. Collectively, we were nowhere near where we needed to be and that is the thing we need to address." – Ange Postecoglou
Missed Opportunities and Defensive Struggles
Despite making tactical changes at halftime, including bringing on Odobert, Tottenham's fortunes did not improve. Odobert came closest to leveling the score in the final minute of added time but nodded over the bar. The team's inability to capitalize on their opportunities highlighted their attacking woes.
Throughout the match, AZ's superiority was evident, though they were unable to extend their lead beyond Bergvall's unfortunate intervention. Tottenham's defense faced pressure from Parrott and other AZ players but managed to limit the damage to just one goal.
Heung-Min Son acknowledged the gravity of the situation and stressed the importance of bouncing back in the return leg.
"It is very disappointing we perform like this, it is a big wake-up call as next week is the biggest game of the season." – Heung-Min Son
Looking Ahead to the Return Leg
The return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be crucial for Spurs as they aim to overturn the deficit and keep their Europa League hopes alive. With their season now hinging on success in this competition, Tottenham must address their shortcomings and deliver a stronger performance.
Leave a Reply