Tottenham Hotspur faced a setback in their Europa League last-16 tie, suffering a 1-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands on Thursday. The decisive moment came in the 18th minute when Lucas Bergvall inadvertently redirected the ball into his own net from a corner, granting the hosts an early lead. Despite Spurs’ earlier victory over the Dutch side in the league phase at home, they could not replicate their performance away.
The visitors struggled to find their footing in the opening half, failing to register a single shot on target. Former Spurs striker Troy Parrott nearly extended Alkmaar's lead with an attempt that spanned across the goal, but it was Bergvall's own goal that remained the match's sole score.
After the break, Bergvall sought redemption with a powerful shot from distance that narrowly missed the target. Despite this effort, Tottenham failed to equalize and create substantial chances throughout the match. Their inability to convert opportunities leaves them with a one-goal deficit as they prepare for the second leg next Thursday at home.
Tottenham's performance in the first leg contrasts sharply with their previous encounter against AZ Alkmaar, where they secured a 1-0 win. However, playing on foreign turf proved challenging for the London side, as they were unable to capitalize on their past success.
The second leg at Tottenham's home ground now presents an opportunity for Spurs to overturn the deficit and advance in the Europa League. The team will need to leverage their home advantage and strengthen their attack to progress further in the competition.
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