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 defeat left Spurs with a challenging second leg at home, as they need to recover from the one-goal deficit to keep their Europa League hopes alive.
Match Overview:
The match was sealed by an unfortunate own goal from Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall in the 18th minute. A cross from Alkmaar’s Jordy Clasie deflected off Bergvall and squeezed past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, giving the home side a narrow 1-0 advantage. This early setback left Spurs struggling to regain composure and get into their usual flow.Despite having 61% possession, Tottenham were unable to make use of their possession. Their offensive efforts were disjointed, with only one shot on target throughout the match. Tottenham's main stars, 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 failed to break down Alkmaar’s defense. In the second half, Tottenham tried to increase the pressure, but their final ball was often lacking, and they couldn’t create meaningful chances. 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 nowhere near the level we needed to be and acknowledged that his team had not shown the needed urgency."We lacked sharpness and pace in our play," Postecoglou said. "It’s a hard result to swallow, but we still have a chance 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 their home ground for the return leg. With the one-goal deficit and slim margin for error, Spurs will need to improve their offensive play to progress to the quarter-finals.AZ Alkmaar will be feeling optimistic after securing the narrow advantage, but they will need to remain cautious when they head to London. With the first leg win, the Dutch side has an edge in the tie, 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