Tottenham edge past struggling AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham Hotspur continued their steady run in the Europa League with a narrow 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar. Despite a determined effort from the Dutch side, a second-half penalty from Richarlison secured all three points for Spurs at home.

Spurs take advantage of AZ’s struggles

Coming into the match, AZ Alkmaar had been struggling with four consecutive losses across competitions, including a defeat against Athletic Bilbao in their previous Europa League outing. Tottenham, fresh off their own domestic challenges, saw this match as an opportunity to solidify their standing in the group. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou opted for a mixed lineup, resting key players like Micky van de Ven, while Heung-Min Son missed out due to injury.

Early pressure and injury woes for AZ

Tottenham came out with intent and nearly took the lead early when Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old academy graduate, headed just wide from a Timo Werner cross. AZ, dealing with their own setbacks, lost Ruben van Bommel to a foot injury early in the first half. Despite the disruption, AZ managed to remain resilient, with Ernest Poku providing energy in their attacking play. The first half saw Tottenham dominate possession, yet they failed to capitalize on key opportunities. Timo Werner had a clear chance but was denied by AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro, while AZ had a close call when Alexandre Penetra’s header was saved by Spurs’ veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Richarlison's penalty decides the match

Postecoglou made changes at halftime, introducing Brennan Johnson, whose pace immediately added a new dimension to Spurs’ attack. Johnson’s liveliness put AZ’s defense under pressure, leading to a decisive moment shortly after the restart. A clumsy challenge from Maxim Dekker on Lucas Bergvall saw the referee point to the spot. Richarlison calmly converted the penalty, putting Spurs ahead 1-0. AZ tried to find a way back into the game, with Poku attempting to create opportunities, but former Spurs forward Troy Parrott struggled to make an impact against his old club. As the match progressed, Tottenham’s focus seemed to wane, allowing AZ to push forward more frequently. Substitute Mayckel Lahdo had a chance to level the score after a mistake by Ben Davies but was thwarted by Forster’s quick reflexes.

AZ's hopes dashed by late red card

Just as AZ’s coach Maarten Martens looked to add more attacking firepower by bringing on Mexx Meerdink, their plans were undone by a red card. David Møller Wolfe received his second yellow card, forcing AZ to play the final minutes with ten men. With the numerical disadvantage, AZ’s chances of mounting a comeback evaporated, and Tottenham held on for a narrow victory.