 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| EPAYonhap News |
|
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min led Tottenham to the quarterfinals of the Europa League with a dedicated play to save the team.
Tottenham won 3-1 in the second round of the Europa League (UEL) round of 16 match against AZ Alkmaar in 2024-2025 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England on the 14th (Korea time). Tottenham confirmed their advance to the quarterfinals with a total of 3-2 in the first and second games.
Tottenham disappointed their fans with a shock 0-1 defeat to Alkmaar in the first leg earlier. If you are eliminated from the Europa League, you will lose all your chances of winning this season, so many predict that Tottenham's performance this season and coach Enze Postecoglou's position will depend on this second game. It was a life-or-death game for Tottenham. Son Heung-min was also rumored to be kicked out along with his poor performance ahead of this game. We needed to play an active role to turn the mood around.
Tottenham opted for a 4-3-3 formation. Son started on the left wing. Standing on the three-top with Dominique Solanke and Wilson O'Dowbert. James Medicine, Pape Sarr and Lucas Beribal were in the midfield. Four backs were captured by Jed Spence, Mickey Panderpen, Christian Romero and Pedro. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Guglielmo Vicario.
Alkmaar also faced off with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Troy Parrott is one-top, and Ernest Poku, Zico Brumister and Ibrahim Sadiq are in the second line. Peer Kopmeiners and Yordi Clash were located in the midfield. David Möhler Olpe, Aleksandr Penetra, Bauter Hawes and Maikuma Seiya made up the four backs. Rom Jaden Ousu-Oduro defended the goal.
 |
| EPAYonhap News |
|
 |
| ReutersYonhap News |
|
Tottenham threatened Alkmaar by raising the line from the beginning. However, the attack lacked completeness. Madison's pass attempt at Son Heung-min in the 15th minute of the first half went far and swallowed the disappointment. Son Heung-min's sharp cross from the left side of the box in the 22nd minute of the first half was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper and could not reach Solanke's head.
Tottenham did not miss the opponent's mistake and scored the first goal. Son Heung-min's pressure created an opportunity. In the 26th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min pressured the defense to make a pass mistake. The ball hit by Son Heung-min's body flowed to Solanke in the box, and Solanke calmly gave the pass to Odobert, who was rushing into the empty space instead of shooting. O'Dober, who caught the ball, strongly stabbed the top right of the goal with a confident shot.
After the first goal, Tottenham boosted their confidence. In the 34th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min aimed for the corner of the goal with a right-footed mid-range shot from the front of the box but was caught by the goalkeeper. In the 41st minute of the first half, Son Heung-min also attempted a strong shot in the box after breaking directly from the left. However, the shot was blocked by the defense's hand-to-hand defense. Madison was the kicker in the free kick opportunity obtained in front of the penalty box in the extra time of the first half. Madison's shot went off the goal line by getting caught in the defensive wall. The first half ended with Tottenham's 1-0 lead.
 |
| APYonhap News |
|
 |
| APYonhap News |
|
Tottenham turned the game around with Son Heung-min's performance early in the second half. In the third minute of the second half, Son Heung-min had a chance to shoot after breaking directly from the left side of the box, but gave up to Madison, who was waiting in a better position. As the defense was focused on Son Heung-min, Madison had a good right-footed shot opportunity, and the shot went straight to the corner of the goal. Son Heung-min's selfless play stood out. Son Heung-min received Solanke's pass directly in the 7th minute of the second half and had a chance to shoot deep in the box, but the touch was long and the ball went off the goal line.
Tottenham overcame the crisis with a decisive defense. In the 12th minute of the second half, Poku's breakthrough continued into the box, allowing even a one-on-one opportunity, but Panderpen, who quickly came to cover, blocked the opportunity with a defense that only cleared the ball from Poku. In the ensuing corner kick attack, Alkmaar's shot turned away from Tottenham's goal.
 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
Tottenham made a huge mistake and dedicated the loss. In the 18th minute of the second half, Odover cut off the opponent's attack in the Alkmaar counterattack and delivered the pass to Veribal. Beribal connected it again with a pass, but the ball hit Odover and fell in front of Cop Meiners. Kope Mainers shook Tottenham's net with a powerful shot.
Tottenham again knocked on Alkmaar's goal for a comeback. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Madison's mid-range shot from the left side of the box headed over the net. Son Heung-min also aimed for a mid-range shot in front of the box in the 26th minute of the second half, but the defense blew itself and blocked it.
Tottenham turned the game around again. In the 29th minute of the second half, Madison launched a counterattack with de-pressure. Son Heung-min, who received the pass, accurately stabbed Spence, who fell to the side. Spence's cross was delivered to O'Dober in front of the empty goal through Solanke in front of the gate, and the shot split the Alkmaar goal as it was.
Tottenham blocked Alkmaar's attack with a hand-to-hand defense. In the 35th minute of the second half, Vicario saved Parrott's shot in a counterattack. Poku's shot, which caught the second ball, was blocked by Bissouma just before he headed into the empty goal.
In the end, the match ended with a 3-1 victory for Tottenham.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
