Match Summary: AZ Alkmaar (A) | OneFootball

Spurs were back in Europa League action tonight when they travelled to AZ Alkmaar for their first of the two-legged tie with the Dutch side, the club were boosted by the fact star defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero made the squad, however only on the bench. The full lineup was as followed: Vicario, Spence, Gray, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Tel, Son (c).

It would be a disaster of a start for the Lilywhites, after a corner that was whipped in to the back stick would be volleyed back across goal by an Alkmaar forward, only for Swedish youngster Lucas Bergvall to direct the ball looping over his keeper and Djed Spence on the line and into the net. A really unfortunate own goal for the midfielder and one Spurs will feel was not deserved, after having the better start to the first period of the game.

Just after the half hour mark, former Spurs boy Troy Parrott would go through one vs one and really should have made it 2-0 but his effort was superbly saved by Vicario. Spurs allowed Denso Kasius to run straight into the large green space vacated by the Lilywhites before sliding it through to the Irishman.

Right on half time Spurs had their hearts in their mouths again, when the Dutch side should have made it two after a huge goal mouth scramble that somehow managed to stay out. Spurs would go into the interval a goal down, and you could definitely say even that was fortunate. Despite all the possession the North Londoners had (65%), the Dutch outfit would be first to all the loose balls and winning every duel. Manager Ange Postecoglou would have had big words to say in the dressing room.

Ange would make a change at half time, Wilson Odobert would be replacing Mathys Tel, who was very anonymous in the first half. Odobert going on the left hand side of the attack, which meant captain Heung-Min Son playing through the middle.

Spurs would be counting their stars again on 53 minutes, after Vicario would get down so quickly to deny Ernest Poku after some good play once more from the Dutch side. Alkmaaar started the second half even better than they ended the first half and were growing even more confidence.

Ange Postecoglou would made three subs on 70 minutes. The returning Dominic Solanke would replace Son, Pape Matar Sarr on or Maddison, adding a bit of extra energy to the midfield, and lastly Pedro Porro coming on for Destiny Udogie, with Djed Spenxe moving to left back. Big changes were needed as this was an awful twenty five minutes of the second period for Spurs. Solanke would go down injured after a collision with an Alkmaar defender in the box and would be replaced by Dane Scarlett late on. A worrying sign for the forward as he only just came back from injury in this game

The match would end 1-0 to Alkmaar, and funnily enough it's probably Spurs who are the happier with the result. The Dutch outfit really should have added to their goal in the first half and Ange Postecoglou's side will be confident in over turning the deficit against a team they havr already beat at home this campaign. Spurs host Bournemouth at the weekend whilst Alkmaar do not have a game, so this will be something to think about for the Australian. It's an uphill battle, but one Spurs fans will feel they can definitely turn around. However the performance will need to be one hundred times better than tonight's showing.