AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham LIVE: Europa League result and reaction as dismal Spurs slip to defeat
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: Lucas Bergvall’s own goal meant Spurs head into the second leg in north London behind but they were fortunate it wasn’t more after an insipid display
A comical first-half own goal from Lucas Bergvall consigned a lacklustre Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-0 loss away to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
Bergvall's sliced clearance from a Troy Parrott shot looped in after 18 minutes and it proved enough to give AZ a first victory over an English side in 12 attempts.
Spurs had eight days to prepare for this fixture but produced a flat display in the Netherlands and did not register a shot on target until the 88th minute.
It was a thoroughly disappointing performance from Ange Postecoglou's team, especially given this competition remains the club's last hope of silverware this term and their only chance to salvage a difficult campaign. Tottenham now have it all to do ahead of Thursday's second leg in north London.
Relive the action with our live blog below:
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 75 mins
Bergvall caught by Clasie and goes down clutching his ribs. It must have been the way he landed because Clasie just put in a normal tackle.
Would Spurs be that unhappy with a 1-0 deficit going back to north London? Probably not, given how they’ve played. Still 15 minutes to go here though
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 71 mins
Postecoglou has seen enough here. Triple substitution time to try and change this up.
Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke and Pape Sarr enter the fray as Udogie, Son and Maddison exit.
Solanke in particular being back from injury is big for Spurs
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 67 mins
Spence surges down the right flank and Koopmeiners twice tries to hold him back from behind, succeeding the second time. Gets a yellow card for his troubles.
AZ sub as Kasius, who came on himself when Lahdo got injured early on is now heading off with a knock. Kees Smit on.
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 64 mins
Penetra’s long-range shot takes a slight deflection off Gray’s knee, giving AZ a corner.
Once again, they try a short corner routine but it breaks down fairly quickly.
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 62 mins
Bentancur clatters Parrott. He knows exactly what he’s doing and rightly gets booked for it. He protests furiously but dare I say he has absolutely no leg to stand on.
He’ll miss the second leg through suspension now as well, in another blow for Spurs
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 57 mins
Spurs have returned to clinging on mode here! AZ piling all the pressure on, they win a corner that is only half-cleared before Koopmeiners drives on again and plays the ball back in but it’s scrambled away.
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 53 mins
As much as Spurs have started better in this second half, they’re still vulnerable and it takes another superb Vicario save to keep it at 1-0!
AZ work the overload and the ball is played to Poku in the box, whose shot it headed for the bottom corner until Vicario springs low to his right to claw it out with one hand. Superb stop
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 52 mins
Good run by Son as he drives forward and he unleashes a shot at goal that flies wide.
Again this is better from Postecoglou’s side
AZ 1-0 Tottenham, 49 mins
This is a good start to the second half by Spurs. Bergvall has a dart forward and fires a shot just a little wide of the goal.
A cross into the box from Udogie then causes consternation for AZ who panic a little before slicing clear.
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