Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur secured a place in the Europa League quarter-finals by overcoming AZ Alkmaar with a solid 3-1 victory in the second leg, clinching a 3-2 aggregate win. This triumph keeps alive Postecoglou’s ambition of securing a trophy in his second season at the helm.
Starting the match trailing 1-0, Spurs made an excellent response. Wilson Odobert opened the scoring with a precise finish in the 26th minute, thanks to a clever setup by Dominic Solanke. Just after the break, James Maddison doubled Tottenham’s advantage with a stunning strike, assisted by captain Son Heung-min, placing Spurs ahead on aggregate.
However, in a twist, the momentum shifted in the 63rd minute when a defensive lapse from Odobert allowed Peer Koopmeiners to equalise for AZ. Yet, Odobert redeemed himself in the 74th minute by scoring again, ensuring Spurs’ passage into the last eight.
Postecoglou expressed satisfaction with the performance, stating, “We’ve progressed, which is the main thing, and we played pretty well.” He acknowledged that while the team showed control, there were moments where they made it tougher on themselves.
Regarding the return of injured stars, he noted the significant impact of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, alongside the impressive talent of Odobert. Postecoglou observed, “We’re looking more like ourselves as key players return, allowing us to adjust the team effectively.” He expressed hope that with three and a half weeks before the quarter-final, the squad could further improve their fitness levels.
In other matches, Athletic Bilbao took advantage of a one-man edge to defeat Roma 3-1 and advance, despite losing the first leg. Two goals from Nico Williams, along with a header from Yuri Berchiche, secured their place in the next round, where they will face Rangers.
Lazio also progressed after a determined performance, securing a 1-1 draw against Viktoria Plzen, which followed a previous 2-1 victory in the first leg. Their next challenge will be against Bodø/Glimt, who advanced despite a loss to Olympiacos.
Overall, Tottenham’s resilience in the face of pressure and the significance of returning players highlight the team’s potential moving forward in the Europa League.