Ange Postecoglou can breathe again. The Spurs manager had been hoping that someone would step up to save their season and his salvation arrived in the shape of Wilson Odobert, with a little bit of help from James Maddison.
When the England midfielder made it 2-0 early in the second half to add to Odobert’s well-taken first goal for the club, it looked like Postecoglou’s side were well on their way to a last eight showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt. This being Tottenham, however, things are never that simple and a mistake from Odobert allowed Peer Koopmeiners to level on aggregate with 20 minute to play. But Odobert kept Postecoglou’s hopes of ending the season with some silverware alive when he swept home at the end of a flowing move instigated by Maddison to send Spurs into the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the first time since 2013.
Postecoglou promised to provide the home supporters with “something to get behind” in his programme notes after his side’s disappointing display in last week’s first leg. They duly responded by creating a cauldron of noise inside the cavernous arena before kick-off, with Spurs immediately showing their intentions as Lucas Bergvall – tasked with playing the holding role in midfield ahead of Yves Bissouma after Rodrigo Bentancur’s suspension – thundered into an early tackle.
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven had not started a game together since 8 December against Chelsea when both picked up injuries that have severely disrupted Tottenham’s season. So it must have been a reassuring sight for Postecoglou when the latter coolly dispossessed the former Spurs striker Troy Parrott and strode out of defence with the ball . But it has been in attack that Tottenham have looked laboured in recent weeks and a misplaced pass from James Maddison that was intended for Son Heung-min was greeted with the first round of groans.
Ajax’s elimination against Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the evening meant that AZ were the only Dutch side left in European competition when the game kicked off, although they had never won an away match against English opposition in 10 previous attempts. They had defended well for more than 25 minutes but that all changed when Wouter Goes found himself under pressure from Son on the edge of his own area. Son’s block ricocheted into Dominic Solanke’s path and he showed great awareness to tee up Odobert for a curling finish that belied the fact that his last goal came for Burnley in a 4-1 victory over Luton in August. Postecoglou pumped his fist in celebration in a rare show of emotion.
James Maddison scores Tottenham’s second goal during the 3-1 win against AZ Alkmaar. Photograph: Ian Walton/AP
Goes – a highly rated Netherlands Under-21 international who was part of the AZ side that won the Uefa Youth League in 2023 – showed his frustration at the intensity of Son’s press when he had no option but to hammer the ball out of play when he found himself in a similar position. The Spurs captain was playing like a man possessed.
AZ were finding it much more difficult to penetrate the Tottenham defence and almost got caught out when Bergvall started a rapid break and finished it by firing over. Yet there was a reminder of the home side’s tendency to shoot themselves in the foot when they gifted possession to AZ on the edge of their own area. Zico Buurmeester could not live up to his illustrious first name as he dragged his shot wide of Guglielmo Vicario’s post.
The Tottenham goalkeeper had another lucky escape at the start of the second half when he had to pull out a Cruyff turn inside his own area to elude Parrott after taking too long on the ball. But their relief was palpable less than a minute later when Pedro Porro won possession to feed Son and he exchanged passes with Maddison, who finished with aplomb. This time, Postecoglou raised two arms in the air to celebrate, although his joy would have turned to despair had Romero not been on hand to block Parrott’s goalbound shot moments later.
skip past newsletter promotion
Sign up to Football Daily
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s take on the world of football
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
after newsletter promotion
It was Van de Ven’s turn to be the saviour next after Romero gave the ball to AZ from a free-kick, with the Dutchman keeping pace with Ernest Poku to divert his shot for a corner. That proved to be his last act as Postecoglou turned to Archie Gray on the hour mark in what looked like a pre-planned move. But disaster struck within three minutes when Odobert appeared to have won back possession, only to divert the ball into the path of Koopmeiners via a touch from Bergvall and the AZ midfielder could barely believe his luck as he slammed the ball past Vicario.
Suddenly the visitors looked like they believed it could be their night, although Maddison and Odobert had other ideas. It still needed a last-ditch goalline clearance from Bissouma that drew one of the biggest roars of the evening to see Tottenham over the line.
