Tottenham Hotspur earned a crucial 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in their Europa League group stage match last night, with Richarlison converting a penalty to secure all three points. Mikey Moore, making his home debut, delivered an impressive performance that caught the eye of everyone watching.
First-half frustrations for Spurs
The first half saw Tottenham dominate possession but struggled to turn that control into a goal. Mikey Moore was energetic from the start, narrowly missing a header from Timo Werner’s cross just five minutes in. Spurs kept pressing, with James Maddison pulling the strings in midfield, proving pivotal in the attacking build-up.
With 81 per cent of Spurs’ passes taking place in the final two-thirds of the pitch, much of the play came through Maddison, who set up Tottenham’s forward momentum. However, despite an xG of 0.77, the home side couldn’t capitalise on their chances, leaving the match goalless at half-time.
Richarlison’s cool finish
Ange Postecoglou made a key substitution at the break, bringing on Brennan Johnson for Werner, which gave Spurs more energy in attack. Tottenham finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. Maddison played a decisive pass to Lucas Bergvall, who was then brought down by Maxim Dekker, winning a penalty.
After a brief discussion with Richarlison, Maddison deferred the penalty-taking duties to the Brazilian, who calmly chipped the ball straight down the middle to give Spurs the lead. It was a significant moment for Richarlison, marking his first start in four months with a much-needed goal.
Mikey Moore impresses
While Richarlison provided the decisive moment, it was 17-year-old Mikey Moore who truly stood out. His fearless attacking runs and movement off the ball caused problems for AZ’s defence throughout the game. After a shift to the left wing in the second half, Moore continued to drive forward, creating opportunities and delivering dangerous crosses.
Moore’s confidence and sharp play belied his age, and his link-up with Johnson and Bergvall ensured Tottenham maintained the pressure on AZ’s backline. This performance showed his potential as a future star for the club, with the youngster impressing in front of the home crowd.
Spurs hold firm in Europa League
As the match drew to a close, AZ pushed for an equaliser, with former Spurs striker Troy Parrott coming close to levelling the score. However, Fraser Forster remained solid in goal, making critical saves, including stopping a header from Alexandre Penetra. AZ’s hopes were further dashed when David Moller Wolfe received a second yellow card late in the match, leaving the visitors down to 10 men.
The win keeps Tottenham in second place in their Europa League group, with nine points from three matches and no goals conceded at home. Lazio remain top of the Europa League table with a superior goal difference of +8, while Spurs sit just behind with a goal difference of +5. With tougher challenges ahead, Spurs will be pleased with their progress so far.