Tottenham Hotspur wrote a new page of European football history in their 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 showdown.
Ange Postecoglou‘s men were under immense pressure to respond after last week’s shocking 1-0 defeat at the AFAS Stadion, and respond they did at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Lilywhites levelled the tie on aggregate through a fine Wilson Odobert finish before James Maddison completed the turnaround, although a defensive disaster then allowed Peer Koopmeiners to give AZ hope.
However, the Dutch side’s bid to take the tie to extra time ended in failure, as a scintillating Spurs passing move from the back ended with Odobert tapping home his second of the night, and crucially, the goal that sent the Lilywhites through to the quarters.
The Frenchman had already helped Spurs achieve an unprecedented feat with his first goal, though, as Tottenham are now the first team to ever have five players aged 21 or under score in one season of a major European competition.
Odobert helps Tottenham make a European club of their own
© Imago
As well as 20-year-old Odobert finding the back of the net in Europe, Dane Scarlett (20), Mikey Moore (17), Damola Ajayi (19) and Will Lankshear (19) have also scored for Spurs in the 2024-25 Europa League.
Lankshear – who is currently on loan at West Bromwich Albion – netted in Tottenham’s 3-2 league-phase loss to Turkish giants Galatasaray, before also being sent off for two bookable offences in the same game.
Meanwhile, Scarlett, Ajayi and Moore all memorably struck on the same evening in January’s 3-0 success over Elfsborg, before Odobert helped to propel Tottenham into a club of their own on Thursday.
The former Burnley man experienced a rough start to life at Tottenham due to two separate hamstring injuries, and tonight was just his 11th appearance for the Lilywhites since his summer arrival from Turf Moor.
However, Odobert is evidently already a highly popular member of Postecoglou’s squad, as his teammates mobbed him at full time after his efforts helped Spurs set up a quarter-final scrap with 2021-22 winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Postecoglou admits Spurs were their “own worst enemy” in AZ win
© Imago
Spurs did not progress without a self-inflicted scare, though, as a mix-up between Lucas Bergvall and Odobert himself gifted Koopmeiners a goal on a plate in front of the away supporters.
The Dutchman’s strike ended up proving trivial, but Postecoglou admitted that his side nearly shot themselves in the foot, telling TNT Sports: “We’ve progressed which is the main thing, played pretty well as well.
“I thought we were really in control of the game, we’re our own worst enemy at times. When we were in control, we let them back in the game and it was nervy at end but we thoroughly deserved to win.
“We scored a great goal from the press and started the second half really well, really should’ve put the tie away in the first 15/20 minutes but super pleased for the boys.”
Tottenham will face either Bodo/Glimt or Lazio in the semis if they can make it past Frankfurt, while one of Manchester United, Lyon, Rangers or Athletic Bilbao will also be present in the final on May 21.
The Lilywhites now travel to Fulham for Sunday’s Premier League derby before the international break.
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