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 suffered a 1-0 loss 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 sealed 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 recover and find their rhythm.Despite having dominance in possession, Tottenham were unable to capitalize on the ball. Their attacks 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 largely ineffective 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 final ball 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 made an important save 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 urgency in our play," Postecoglou said. "It’s a tough one to take, but we still have a chance at home in the second leg."
Looking Ahead:
The tie is still open, and Tottenham will need to produce a much-improved performance 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 slight edge, but they will need to stay focused when they head to London. With the 1-0 lead, the Dutch side has an edge in the tie, but they will know that Spurs can turn things around at home.
Tottenham fans will be hoping for a comeback in the second leg as their team fights for a place in the quarter-finals. Report this page