Tottenham lose by the narrowest of margins in Alkmaar but should still have enough to qualify
Report and photo by Alessandro Schiavone in Alkmaar
Goals: Bergvall own-goal 18' (AZ Alkmaar)
A sluggish Tottenham Hotspur side lost by the narrowest of margins at AZ Alkmaar with Lucas Bergvall's own goal separating the sides in north Holland.
The Swedish midfielder's failed clearance following a scramble in the box from a corner looped over Guglielmo Vicario and inside in the 18th minute.
Worryingly Ange Postecoglou's rattled side, and in particular Djed Spence, made Ernest Poku look like Jeremy Doku.
Alkmaar's left winger could have given the outsiders the lead in the 11th minute but his dazzling chance of pace was followed up by a poor diagonal finish across the face of goal.
A part from key injuries, the visitors' high line and irresponsible defending played a big part in their slump this season. And had Alkmaar possessed more quality in the box they could have killed off the tie.
Poku failed to hit the target again fifteen minutes later before Guglielmo Vicario somehow denied ex-Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate Troy Parrott through on goal with his leg.
Tottenham huffed and puffed and Brennan Johnson, Bergvall and Son-Heung Min all failed to hit the target from afar.
And the Australian's flops had to thank Italian goalkeeper Vicario for yet another excellent one-handed low save to deny Poku.
Wilson Odobert headed over from Pedro Porro's cross with the last kick of the game.
But with nothing left to play for in the league and the luxury to rest someone against Bournemouth on Sunday, Tottenham should still have enough to progress to the quarter-finals.
Provided that they up their game in both transitions, of course.
Line-ups
Az Alkmaar
1 Owusu-Oduro- 3 Goes- 5 Penetra- 6 Koopmeiners- 8 Classie- 9 Parrott- 16 Maikuma- 18 Möller Wolfe- 21 Poku- 23 Lahdo- 28 Buurmeester
Tottenham Hotspur
1 Vicario- 4 Danso- Son - 10 Maddison- 11 Tel- 13 Udogie- 14 Gray- 15 Bergvall- 22 Johnson- 24 Spence- 30 Bentancur
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