Tottenham Hotspur will need to overturn a first-leg deficit if they hope to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, following a frustrating 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in their last-16 tie. The match at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday evening was decided by an unfortunate own goal from young Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side with plenty of work to do in the return fixture.
Bergvall’s Misfortune Hands AZ the Lead
The decisive moment came in the 18th minute when AZ earned a corner kick that was delivered deep into the penalty area. Former Spurs striker Troy Parrott managed to flick the ball back towards goal, causing chaos in the six-yard box. In an attempt to clear the danger, Bergvall made contact with the ball, but his miscue sent it past goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and into the back of the net.
It was a cruel twist for the young Swedish midfielder, who had otherwise been composed and confident in possession. Despite Tottenham’s efforts to regroup, they struggled to break down a resolute AZ defense and failed to create meaningful attacking opportunities. By the final whistle, Spurs had managed just one shot on target—a statistic that underlined their lack of cutting edge on the night.
Bergvall Acknowledges Error but Shows Character
After the match, Bergvall demonstrated his maturity by taking responsibility for the own goal. According to BBC Sport, as the Tottenham players went over to applaud their traveling supporters, the 18-year-old was seen raising his hands in an apologetic gesture.
“The Spurs players applaud their travelling supporters and youngster Lucas Bergvall holds his hands up in apology, perhaps because of that first-half own goal,” the report noted. “To be fair, he recovered well from that setback and made a couple of important blocks thereafter.”
Despite the unfortunate incident, Bergvall’s overall performance was commendable. The midfielder was highly efficient with his passing, completing nearly all of his attempts while also delivering two accurate long balls. He made a key pass, successfully completed two dribbles, and won five ground duels, showcasing his resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity. Additionally, his defensive contributions—two tackles and a crucial block—highlighted his all-around game and potential to develop into a key player for Spurs.
Tottenham’s Focus Shifts to Crucial Fixtures
While the defeat in the Netherlands was disappointing, Tottenham must quickly turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures. They return to Premier League action this Sunday, hosting Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 2:00 PM GMT kickoff. With their top-four ambitions still very much alive, Spurs will be eager to get back to winning ways in domestic competition.
However, their most pressing challenge remains the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against AZ on Thursday, March 13 (8:00 PM GMT). With home advantage on their side, Postecoglou’s men will be determined to put in a much-improved performance and overturn the narrow deficit to keep their European hopes alive.
The first leg may not have gone as planned, but Spurs have the talent and firepower to turn the tie around. With key players needing to step up and Bergvall showing strong character despite his early setback, Tottenham will look to deliver a decisive response in front of their home crowd.
