Tottenham Hotspur’s season was on the line entering the second leg of the Europa League Round of 16 fixture with AZ Alkmaar at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In a lost domestic season, Spurs’ chance of salvaging the season and Ange Postecouglou’s job revolved around winning an important fixture against AZ Alkmaar, and the side did just that with a 3-1 victory and advanced on a 3-2 aggregate on Thursday.
A week ago, Spurs looked awful against the high press that AZ brought forth in front of its home fans and escaped with a point at the weekend at home against Bournemouth; Spurs went with the firepower in hopes of securing a quarter-final spot. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven returned to the Starting XI — the first time since the Chelsea match that both saw the pitch together — Lucas Bergvall sitting in the hole as the No. 6 and Wilson Odobert getting the nod over Brennan Johnson at right wing.
The first 25 minutes of the game saw Spurs recover in big moments. The center-back partnership took chances on big tackles but also pushed the ball forward to get the team in the attacking half of the pitch.
Hunting for the goal to level on aggregate, a lapse in defense from AZ allowed Spurs to jump on the moment. With a poor back pass in defense around the box, Son Heung-min won a deflection off the clearance attempt that allowed Dominic Solanke to collect the loose ball in the AZ box and into an open box. Getting the ball out from underneath him — with many anticipating the striker to take a shot on goal — Solanke laid off a perfect ball for Wilson Odobert at the penalty spot to have the Frenchman blast a weak foot goal for his first goal as a Spurs player.
Leveling the leg in the 27th minute, Spurs looked for that insurance goal before the half as Sonny had multiple chances that were blocked as his patented cut through the box on his right foot was narrowly off from giving Spurs a 2-0 lead into the half
James Maddison had a chance in the last seconds of the half, but his free-kick was headed away by the wall, and his volley take on the ensuing corner was stopped in the box.
With all to play for in the second half, Spurs jumped on the mistake again by AZ. Pedro Porro’s pressure on Mees De Wit — who had just come in for the second half — saw Odobert collect the ball in transition and lead the break. Finding Maddison in the middle and the vice-captain hitting Sonny on the wing, Sonny cut back onto his right foot with two AZ defenders dropping deep in the box for a deflection chance. Seeing it and how wide open Maddison was in the middle of the box, Sonny laid it off, and Maddison collected his first touch and slotted a right-foot shot into the far corner for a 2-0 lead.
AZ leveled the aggregate scoreline minutes after van de Ven was subbed off in the 60th minute. A poor passing decision from Bergvall gave Peer Koopmeiners the loose ball and a hammering strike to the far post.
Feeling gutted that Spurs could choke this game away, the team put the exclamation mark on a tremendous counterattack with Odobert collecting his brace.
Leading yet again and needing 20 minutes to hold on for a quarter-final date with Frankfurt, Spurs endured chances from AZ as one moment seemed to be destined for the back of the net.
Ex-Academy product Troy Parrott was through on goal and had his shot parried away from Gugilemo Vicario. Pushing it to his right, the ball landed at the feet of De Wit, and with Vicario sprawling up and ready in position, Yves Bissouma took no chances as his clearance near the line was sent away for an AZ corner.
In the end, Spurs held on for a 3-2 aggregate victory and reached the quarter-finals of the Europe League for just the second time (eight fully with the UEFA Cup appearances).
Now, is an opportunity for Spurs to put together a good run of fixtures with the momentum of moving on in Europe can position the side to feel good about themselves. Spurs return to Premier League play as they make the short trip to west London to play at Craven Cottage against Fulham.