Tottenham 1-0 AZ Alkmaar: Ange Postecoglou’s side makes surprise changes

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur continued their perfect Europa League campaign with a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening, thanks to a penalty from Richarlison.

Tottenham controlled possession from the start but couldn’t make the most of several early chances. Over time, AZ Alkmaar started to find their footing, creating threats on the counterattack whenever possible.

This pattern continued throughout the first half. Tottenham increased the pressure just before halftime, but AZ’s strong defence forced Spurs to rely on long-range shots. As a result, the game remained goalless at the break.

At the start of the second half, Tottenham came out with energy. Mikey Moore stood out with his impressive dribbling, and soon after, Spurs got their goal. Richarlison chipped in a penalty after Lucas Bergvall was fouled in the box by Maxim Dekker.

Even after the goal, Spurs held onto possession, though AZ Alkmaar slowly regained their momentum and launched several counterattacks. However, they lacked the sharpness to turn these chances into a goal.

Late in the game, AZ was reduced to ten men when David Moller Wolfe received his second yellow card for a foul on Brennan Johnson. With a player down, they faced even more difficulty trying to equalise.

Despite their efforts to pick up the pace in the final minutes, Tottenham’s defence stayed strong, securing a 1-0 victory for Postecoglou’s side.