Tottenham Hotspur maintained their perfect start to the Europa League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The decisive moment came early in the second half when Richarlison coolly converted a penalty, securing a crucial three points for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Richarlison Steps Up
The Brazilian forward, making his first start since May, shouldered the responsibility from the spot after Rodrigo Bentancur was fouled in the box. Despite a brief discussion with teammate James Maddison over who would take the penalty, Richarlison calmly slotted home to give Spurs the lead they craved.
It was positive to see Richarlison move them closer towards securing a place in the knockout phase by scoring for the first time since May.
– According to a close source
Misfiring Forwards
Despite the victory, it was far from a vintage Tottenham performance. Postecoglou’s heavily rotated side struggled for cohesion, with several understudies failing to make their mark. Timo Werner, in particular, endured a frustrating evening, spurning two golden opportunities to open the scoring in the first half.
There was no conviction as Werner opened up his body before rolling a tame shot straight at Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
– Insider reveals
AZ Alkmaar’s Missed Chances
The visitors, to their credit, were not content to sit back and soak up pressure. AZ created several openings of their own, with Ernest Poku causing problems down the left flank. However, a combination of wayward finishing and impressive goalkeeping from Fraser Forster kept the Dutch side at bay.
- Penetra’s header drew a leaping save from Forster
- Forster sprinted from his area to tackle Kasius
- Excellent save from substitute Mayckel Lahdo
Holding On for Victory
As the game wore on, Spurs were forced to dig deep to preserve their slender advantage. A nervy moment arrived when Radu Dragusin lost possession in a dangerous area, but Rodrigo Bentancur was on hand to make a vital challenge. AZ’s hopes of snatching a late equalizer were extinguished when David Moller Wolfe received his marching orders for a second bookable offense.
A draw would not have flattered the visitors.
– Tottenham insider admits
Job Done for Postecoglou
While Postecoglou will undoubtedly demand improvement from his side, the Australian can take solace in the fact that Spurs got the job done. With three wins from three in the Europa League, Tottenham is well-positioned to reach the knockout stages as they chase silverware on multiple fronts this season.
As attentions turn back to domestic matters, Postecoglou will hope that this narrow victory can serve as a catalyst for his side to find consistency and rhythm in the weeks ahead. For now, though, Spurs can bask in the glow of another European triumph, even if the performance left much to be desired.
