- Lucas Bergvall’s first-half personal aim noticed Tottenham fall to defeat in Alkmaar
- AZ Alkmaar deserved the victory and may assume they deserved extra
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is Alisson the perfect goalkeeper within the Premier League?
Nicely, it is not over. Tottenham stay within the tie and that’s the solely optimistic issue Ange Postecoglou can take by the use of solace from a visit to the Netherlands the place his mission to save lots of the season within the Europa League kicked off with a efficiency as flat because the panorama.
His workforce didn’t register an effort on track towards AZ Alkmaar till the 88th minute when a mishit cross by Wilson Odobert fell dropped into that vacant class due to the generosity of UEFA’s statisticians.
The one different one was the freakish personal aim by Lucas Bergvall which settled the primary leg in favour of the Dutch workforce who ought to really feel aggrieved to not lead by extra.
There have been missed probabilities they are going to rue in the event that they exit within the second leg, when Spurs might be with out Rodrigo Bentancur, who might be suspended after a yellow card. Dominic Solanke is likely to be a doubt, too. Solanke made his return after seven weeks out with a knee harm however hobbled off 20 minutes later in discomfort after touchdown closely on his again.
‘Hopefully nothing too unhealthy,’ was Postecoglou’s verdict however long-suffering followers may want that they had given up hope for lent. On the finish, they took their frustration out on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who was attempting to raise their spirits with out success.
‘We did not actually come to grips and have the appropriate mindset to deal with an away fixture in Europe,’ stated Postecoglou. ‘It is all the time robust and we clearly conceded the aim, which was a disappointing set of occasions however even after that we did not actually calm down into the sport in any respect.
Tottenham suffered a 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar within the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie
An personal aim from Lucas Bergvall put the hosts forward, with the midfielder slicing into his internet
The defeat is main blow for Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham try and rescue their season
‘You’ll face some strain whenever you play away from house in Europe and climate the storm and become familiar with it, however we by no means actually did in order that was a disappointment.’
Postecoglou grumbled concerning the pitch but in addition accused his workforce of missing ‘aggression’ and being too ‘hesitant’. And captain Son Heung-min stated it was ‘sloppy’ and ‘nowhere close to ok’ and ‘a giant get up name forward of the largest sport of our season subsequent week’.
Tottenham discovered themselves behind inside 18 minutes. And the house followers have been bouncing up and down, singing the identify of their former Spurs striker Troy Parrott, who performed his half in a aim that can go down towards Bergvall.
Parrott was lurking past the again put up to fulfill a deep nook. He tried to assist it again throughout aim on the volley however didn’t catch it clear, miscued and scuffed it down into the bottom, which appeared to confuse Bergvall who sliced an tried clearance off the surface of his proper boot.
The ball swerved up in the direction of his personal aim over goalkeeper Vicario and Djed Spence on the road.
AZ have been content material to let the guests dominate the ball and sought to hit them shortly on the turnover with slick passing combos and speedy wingers Ernest Poku and Denso Karius.
They need to have scored once more earlier than half time when Karius outpaced Son on a run from his personal half earlier than releasing Parrott, clear by way of on aim. There was no flag, however Vicario got here to the rescue, dashing out to shut the angles and make a fantastic save.
Extra disappointing was that Spurs created so little going ahead. AZ centre-halves Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra simply neutralised Mathys Tel, who’s struggling to make any impression as a centre ahead.
Troy Parrott was prevented from scoring towards his outdated membership by a fantastic Guglielmo Vicario save
Tottenham may very well be with out Dominic Solanke for the second leg after he limped off late on
AZ Alkmaar celebrated securing a 1-0 first leg lead however might really feel they deserved to have extra
Guglielmo Vicario tried to rally the Tottenham supporters post-match following the defeat
Tottenham followers expressed their frustration at full-time following one other setback within the season
Tel was changed at half time by Wilson Odobert who briefly supplied additional menace as a result of his menace to run in behind created house for the inventive midfielders.
Bergvall superior into house and lashed a shot narrowly large. Odobert linked up with Son, whose end was disappointingly wild. Clearer probabilities got here and went, in the meantime, on the different finish. Poku compelled one other save from Vicario after which skied a good probability introduced by a uncommon mistake on the ball by Archie Grey.
Penetra had one other shot deflected large earlier than Postecoglou made a triple change, which included the return of Solanke however his night time led to ache, there can be no late leveller and Spurs have work to do on Thursday in London.
