Tottenham Hotspur endured a frustrating evening in the Netherlands as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. The match, played at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday night, saw Spurs undone by an unfortunate moment early in the contest.
The decisive goal came in the 18th minute when Lucas Bergvall inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving the Dutch side a crucial advantage heading into the second leg. Despite having more than 70 minutes to respond, Ange Postecoglou’s men struggled to break down a disciplined AZ defense, managing just a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Adding to Spurs’ woes, striker Dominic Solanke—who was making his return from injury—was forced off late in the game after suffering a knock. The forward, who came on as a substitute in the second half, appeared to be in considerable discomfort following a collision with AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
Les Ferdinand Criticizes Brennan Johnson’s Cross That Led to Solanke’s Injury
Following the match, Les Ferdinand, speaking as a pundit on TNT Sports, expressed his disappointment with the delivery that led to Solanke’s knock. The former Spurs striker was particularly critical of Brennan Johnson’s cross, suggesting that it put the forward in a vulnerable position.
“When the cross came in, I turned to Owen Hargreaves and said, ‘That’s one of the worst crosses in the world for a centre-forward,’” Ferdinand remarked. “You have to go for it, but you know you’re going to get clattered by the goalkeeper—and that’s exactly what happened.”
The incident occurred in the 84th minute when Johnson whipped a ball into the AZ penalty area, forcing Solanke to challenge for it in mid-air. As the Spurs striker attempted to get on the end of the cross, Owusu-Oduro came off his line aggressively, leading to a heavy collision that left Solanke clutching his leg in pain. The £48 million summer signing from Bournemouth was visibly frustrated, slapping the turf as he remained on the ground.
Dominic Solanke’s Return Cut Short After Knee Injury Layoff
This match marked Solanke’s first appearance for Tottenham in over two months after being sidelined with a knee injury. The England international had been working his way back to full fitness and was introduced off the bench in the 72nd minute as Spurs searched for an equalizer. However, his return was short-lived, as the clash with Owusu-Oduro raised fresh concerns about his fitness.
Ange Postecoglou Provides Injury Update on Solanke
Despite the worrying scenes, Ange Postecoglou offered a reassuring update on Solanke’s condition after the game. The Tottenham manager suggested that while the striker was feeling sore, the injury did not appear to be serious.
“We think it’s a knock, so hopefully nothing too bad. He’s a bit sore,” Postecoglou told reporters.
While further assessment will be needed, the initial prognosis is positive, and Tottenham will be hopeful that Solanke can recover in time for their upcoming fixtures.
What’s Next for Tottenham?
Spurs will now shift their focus back to the Premier League, where they are set to host Bournemouth on Sunday in a 2 PM GMT kickoff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Following that, all attention will turn to the crucial second leg of their Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar, which takes place on Thursday, March 13. With home advantage on their side, Spurs will be determined to overturn the deficit and keep their European dreams alive.
Postecoglou and his squad will need a much-improved attacking display if they are to progress to the quarter-finals. Fans will also be eager to see if Solanke recovers in time to play a part in that decisive fixture.
‘He’s One of the worst ever’: Les Ferdinand singles out £48m Spurs player for doing something bad late on in last night’s AZ loss
