AZ Alkmaar Edge Tottenham 1-0 in Europa League
AZ Alkmaar Edge Tottenham 1-0 in Europa League
Blog Article
On March 6, 2025, Tottenham Hotspur were defeated 1-0 by AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie at the AFAS Stadion. The loss left Spurs with a challenging second leg at home, as they need to overturn a one-goal deficit to stay alive in the Europa League.
Match Overview:
The match was decided by an unfortunate own goal from Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall in the 18th minute. A ball from Alkmaar’s Jordy Clasie deflected off Bergvall and squeezed past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, giving the home side a 1-0 lead. This early setback left Spurs finding it difficult to regain composure and get into their usual flow.Despite having 61% possession, Tottenham were unable to capitalize on the ball. Their offensive efforts were lackluster, with only one shot on target throughout the match. Key players, including Son Heung-Min, James Maddison, and Brennan Johnson, were unable to create chances, and Spurs were lacking creativity in the final third.
Key Moments:
Spurs’ frustration was evident as they couldn’t break through Alkmaar’s defense. In the second half, Tottenham pressed higher, but their delivery was often lacking, and they couldn’t find the key to unlock Alkmaar’s defense. In the dying minutes, James Maddison had a chance to level the score, but his powerful shot was saved by Alkmaar’s goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, who produced a crucial stop to preserve the lead.สเปอร์ส บุกพ่าย อาแซด อัลค์มาร์ 0-1 ยูโรปาลีก นัดแรก
Post-Match Reaction:
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was frustrated with his team’s performance, admitting that the loss was "a tough night overall." He stated that Spurs were far from the level required and acknowledged that his team had failed to show the required intensity."We were lacking in sharpness and urgency in our play," Postecoglou said. "It’s a hard result to swallow, but we still have a opportunity at home in the second leg."
Looking Ahead:
The tie is still open, and Tottenham will need to step up their game when they host AZ Alkmaar at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the second leg. With the away goal disadvantage and few opportunities, Spurs will need to find their attacking rhythm to advance to the next round of the Europa League.AZ Alkmaar will remain confident after securing the slight edge, but they will need to stay focused when they head to London. With the 1-0 lead, the Dutch side has one foot in the quarter-finals, but they will know that Spurs are capable of overturning the deficit at home.
Tottenham fans will be hoping for a strong response in the second leg as their team aims to keep their Europa League campaign alive. Report this page