AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham: Spurs slip up on the road

AZ Alkmaar secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie.

The home side capitalised on a defensive lapse while keeping the visitors at bay.

A first-half own goal from Lucas Bergvall proved decisive, as Spurs failed to register a single shot on target throughout the match.

Despite a dominant share of possession, Tottenham struggled to create meaningful opportunities, with AZ’s disciplined defense and aggressive pressing ensuring their lead remained intact.

Ange Postecoglou’s men were uninspired in attack, while the hosts took full advantage of their set-piece opportunities.

The game started brightly for AZ, with Lahdo and Moller Wolfe combining well down the left.

However, an early setback saw Lahdo forced off through injury, replaced by Kasius.

Spurs dominated possession in the opening exchanges, but AZ remained compact, frustrating their Premier League opponents.

🔥 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌#AZAlkmaar #aztot #UEL #TheFutureIsOurs pic.twitter.com/hoNh0OjFOy

— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) March 6, 2025

The breakthrough came in the 18th minute. A corner from Koopmeiners was mishit by Parrott, sending the ball across the six-yard box, where Bergvall inadvertently turned it into his own net.

It was a disastrous moment for Spurs, gifting AZ the lead with their first real attack.

Spurs attempted to respond, but their efforts were tame. Johnson fired over from distance, and Maddison and Son wasted a promising free-kick routine.

Meanwhile, AZ grew in confidence, with Parrott missing a golden chance to double their lead after being played through one-on-one.

Vicario’s quick reactions denied his former teammate, keeping Tottenham’s deficit to one at half-time.

Postecoglou reacted by making a half-time substitution, introducing Wilson Odobert in place of the ineffective Mathys Tel.

However, Spurs’ struggles continued. Their first-half tally of just two shots was compounded by a second half that saw AZ remain in control, despite Tottenham’s attempted tactical shifts.

AZ nearly extended their lead when Poku’s driven shot was expertly stopped by Vicario.

Spurs, meanwhile, continued to misfire, with Son and Bergvall both sending efforts wide. Their lack of cutting edge was summed up by their continued inability to trouble AZ keeper Owusu-Oduro.

A flurry of substitutions followed as Postecoglou sought a way back into the game. Captain Heung-Min Son, who had been largely anonymous, was withdrawn for Dominic Solanke, while Maddison made way for Pape Sarr.

Pedro Porro also replaced Destiny Udogie in a bid to add more dynamism down the flank. Yet, despite these changes, Spurs remained lacklustre in attack.

AZ continued to look dangerous on the break, with Koopmeiners pulling the strings in midfield. Poku saw another shot sail over the bar, while Maikuma and Gray kept Tottenham’s backline busy.

The game grew increasingly physical, with Bentancur, Koopmeiners, and Poku all receiving yellow cards in a heated second half.

As the final whistle blew, AZ celebrated a well-earned victory, while Spurs were left frustrated by their lack of attacking impetus.

With a second leg at home still to come, Tottenham must find a way to break down AZ’s defence if they are to overturn the deficit and keep their European hopes alive.