Odobert double saves Spurs’ Europa League campaign - and maybe Ange’s job

Tottenham Hotspur’s season effectively hinged on whether they could overturn a 1-0 deficit against AZ Alkmaar on Friday morning (AEDT) in the third meeting between the sides in this year’s Europa League.

They managed it thanks to two goals by Wilson Odobert, the French youngster’s first for the club since joining in August, which steered them to a 3-1 win on the night and a 3-2 aggregate victory, putting them into the quarter-finals and keeping alive Ange Postecoglou’s second-season trophy hopes.

Odobert opened the scoring in the 26th minute after a poor clearance by AZ’s Wouter Goes and the hosts moved ahead on aggregate three minutes after the break when Son Heung-min set up James Maddison for a side-footed finish into the corner.

Wilson Odobert.Credit: AP

AZ were gifted a way back in to the tie in the 63rd minute when Peer Koopmeiners took advantage of a defensive error to fire a shot past Guglielmo Vicario.

But Odobert struck again in the 74th minute to ease the home jitters, finishing off a flowing Tottenham attack down the left from close range.

Spurs will next face Eintracht Frankfurt who eased to a 6-2 aggregate win over Ajax Amsterdam after a 4-1 home victory in which Mario Gotze scored twice.

Lyon, 3-1 up from the first leg, cruised into the quarter-finals, with Ernest Nuamah and Georges Mikautdze both scoring twice.

Bilbao beat AS Roma 3-1, the Italian side reduced to 10 men after Mats Hummels was shown an early red card and the hosts’ Nico Williams scored twice either side of Yuri Berchiche’s goal.

Roma’s Leandro Paredes converted a late penalty but the Spanish side advanced 4-3 on aggregate.

Lazio, 2-1 up from the first leg against Viktoria Plzen, went behind to a Pavel Sulc goal early in the second half but scraped through with a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 aggregate win thanks to Alessio Romagnoli’s late header.

The Italians will next meet Bodo/Glimt who lost 2-1 at Olympiacos but advanced 4-2 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes netted a hat-trick as Manchester United eased to a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad to also progress to the next stage.

United will face Olympique Lyonnais in the last eight after the French side strolled to a 4-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.

Here’s some of what Ange Postecoglou had to say in his post-match press conference.

On Tottenham’s third goal, which was a welcome return to Angeball:

All goals are important but when you see a goal that is so core to our attacking values it gives all the players such belief. Having Dom [Solanke] in there as a focal point is so important and Madders as well. It’s something we haven’t been able to call upon. The players deserve it and now we’re into a European quarter-final which is so exciting.

On the rise of Lucas Bergvall, the Swedish teenager who anchored their midfield, and Wilson Odobert, the two-goal hero:

Lucas is just growing and growing. People are getting a real glimpse now of what Wilson is all about. Such a shame how his season has gone with the time he’s missed, but he’s getting sharper now. I also thought we looked so much more solid with Romero and Van de Ven on the pitch, they barely found a way through.

And on a virtuoso performance from James Maddison, perhaps his best for the club:

I thought all night he was really good. I thought the four leaders all felt that it was their time now. It’s been tough for the whole club this year but especially the players. I think from my perspective it now allows us to have this solid core plaform of players and we have a group to bring on and also impact the game.

Tottenham Hotspur’s season effectively hinged on whether they could overturn a 1-0 deficit against AZ Alkmaar on Friday morning (AEDT) in the third meeting between the sides in this year’s Europa League.

They managed it thanks to two goals by Wilson Odobert, the French youngster’s first for the club since joining in August, which steered them to a 3-1 win on the night and a 3-2 aggregate victory, putting them into the quarter-finals and keeping alive Ange Postecoglou’s second-season trophy hopes.

Odobert opened the scoring in the 26th minute after a poor clearance by AZ’s Wouter Goes and the hosts moved ahead on aggregate three minutes after the break when Son Heung-min set up James Maddison for a side-footed finish into the corner.

Wilson Odobert.Credit: AP

AZ were gifted a way back in to the tie in the 63rd minute when Peer Koopmeiners took advantage of a defensive error to fire a shot past Guglielmo Vicario.

But Odobert struck again in the 74th minute to ease the home jitters, finishing off a flowing Tottenham attack down the left from close range.

Spurs will next face Eintracht Frankfurt who eased to a 6-2 aggregate win over Ajax Amsterdam after a 4-1 home victory in which Mario Gotze scored twice.

Lyon, 3-1 up from the first leg, cruised into the quarter-finals, with Ernest Nuamah and Georges Mikautdze both scoring twice.

Bilbao beat AS Roma 3-1, the Italian side reduced to 10 men after Mats Hummels was shown an early red card and the hosts’ Nico Williams scored twice either side of Yuri Berchiche’s goal.

Roma’s Leandro Paredes converted a late penalty but the Spanish side advanced 4-3 on aggregate.

Lazio, 2-1 up from the first leg against Viktoria Plzen, went behind to a Pavel Sulc goal early in the second half but scraped through with a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 aggregate win thanks to Alessio Romagnoli’s late header.

The Italians will next meet Bodo/Glimt who lost 2-1 at Olympiacos but advanced 4-2 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes netted a hat-trick as Manchester United eased to a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad to also progress to the next stage.

United will face Olympique Lyonnais in the last eight after the French side strolled to a 4-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.

One last look, here, probably for AZ as Archie Gray gives away a free kick. Halfway into their attacking half. Not an especially dangerous spot, and if Spurs are good enough to handle it, they should be home. The ball is floated in… and cleared.

And there’s the final whistle.

Tottenham prevails 3-1 in the match, 3-2 in the tie - and their Europa League campaign lives on.

So, too, does this project under Ange Postecoglou.

And… breathe.

...can Spurs hang on?

We’re through one of those four minutes. So far, so good...

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 (3-2) AZ Alkmaar, 90+1 minutes

It’s all gone quiet in North London. These are nervous times. AZ has pushed numbers forward… the pressure is high. The flip-side of that is that there will be openings at the other end.

If they keep their heads, Tottenham will get this done. But that, of course, is easier said than done. Particularly this season. And particularly against this stubborn AZ outfit.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 (3-2) AZ Alkmaar, 89 minutes

One last sub window used here by Tottenham. Lucas Bergvall, who looks like he’s had some issues with cramping, is withdrawn. Hopefully that’s all it is. Ben Davies, nominally a centre-half, comes on.

Does that mean Archie Gray is pushed into midfield? For the first time, I think?

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 (3-2) AZ Alkmaar, 85 minutes

...and just had a free header right in front of goal. Mexx Meerdink the subsitute put it over, but he probably took it off Parrott, who was behind him waiting…

Spurs really need to cling on here to see this out... this is not going to be an easy finish to the match, though.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 (3-2) AZ Alkmaar, 84 minutes

AZ, as I mentioned, will not tie wondering. And two shots from Troy Parrott and de Wit were just turned away by some desperate last-ditch actions from Vicario and Bissouma, who was just injected into the contest. Vicario celebrated that like they scored a goal!

The visitors get a corner from it and Vicario collects.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 (3-2) AZ Alkmaar, 80 minutes