Tottenham keep 100% record as Richarlison scores penalty in AZ Alkmaar win

Tottenham earned a hard-fought UEFA Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar through a Richarlison penalty, as teenager Mikey Moore lit up north London with a dazzling second-half display.

Moore switched wings at half-time as Timo Werner was withdrawn and the 17-year-old proceeded to terrify the AZ defence, though it was a foul on Lucas Bergvall that resulted in the match-winning spot-kick.

Richarlison had a spat with James Maddison over who would take the penalty but oozed confidence as he dispatched it straight down the middle.

Both teams had chances but Ange Postecoglou’s side controlled the final stages to continue their perfect start to the competition. The win puts Tottenham second in the league phase, level on points with Lazio after three games.

Tottenham are two goals behind the Italians but only have themselves to blame after missing string of opportunities at the start of both halves, starting with Moore after just five minutes.

Poor decision making proved costly on several occasions, with Bergvall spurning another early chance having attempted to make one pass too many on the edge of the penalty area.

Moore flashed a teasing ball across the face of goal that just required Brennan Johnson to be on the same wavelength, but he was unable to make contact.

AZ more than played their part too, especially after losing star man Ruben van Bommel with just 12 minutes played. It may have been a blessing in disguise as Ernest Poku switched to the left wing and was the visitors’ biggest attacking threat for the rest of the game.

Perhaps their best opportunity came with 15 minutes to go when former Spurs forward Troy Parrott set up Mayckel Lahdo for a one-on-one opportunity, but stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster made himself big enough to deny the Swede.

As a result of defeat, AZ fall to 24th in the early Europa League standings.

Talking point: A game of two halves for Tottenham

Tottenham started the game looking very much like a heavily rotated team, with the attacking players showing why they’ve largely been held in reserve by Postecoglou, who made nine changes to the side that beat West Ham at the weekend.

Werner was the biggest culprit, missing two one-on-one opportunities in the first half before he was hooked at half-time for Johnson.

However, the German wasn’t at fault for Moore missing a golden opportunity to open his account for the senior side early on, as he failed to get enough contact on Werner’s cross to direct the ball the right side of the post.

And AZ arguably ended the second-half stronger, with Parrott always a threat and Poku enjoying plenty of space in the Tottenham half.

The hosts were a team transformed in the second half, though. Moore began to play with real confidence and got the better of right-back Seiya Maikuma time after time.

The penalty came as Tottenham went more direct, drawing a clumsy challenge from Maxim Dekker. Captain Maddison initially took the ball off Richarlison before handing it back to the Brazilian on his return from injury.

And though AZ did have opportunities in the closing minutes of the game – most notably through Lahdo – Tottenham were the more threatening team for the remainder of the half, especially after David Moller Wolfe’s late red card.

Player of the match: Mikey Moore

The ultimate sign of Moore’s second-half supremacy was the substitution of the beleaguered Maikuma just 21 minutes after the teenager switched flanks to attack the Japanese full-back.

With Son Heung-min missing this game with a niggle and potentially out for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park too, Moore could’ve only produced a better audition to start on the wing if he’d had a goal contribution. Unsurprisingly, all the post-game talk was about the sensational teenager.

Player ratings

Tottenham: Forster 7, Gray 7, Dragusin 7, Davies 6, Udogie 6, Bentancur 7, Maddison 7, Bergvall 6, Moore 8, Richarlison 7, Werner 4.

Subs: Johnson 7, Solanke 6, Kulusevski 7, Odobert 7.

AZ: Owusu-Oduro 7, Maikuma 3, Penetra 7, Dekker 6, Wolfe 5, Clasie 6, Mijnans 5, Belic 5, Poku 8, Parrott 7, Van Bommell 5.

Subs: Kasius 6, Koopmeiners 6, Lahdo 6, Kwakman 5, Meerdink 6.

Match highlights

15’ – FINALLY LIFE IN AZ: Ernest Poku has switched wings in that change and sparked an AZ chance at last! The visitors work it across the box to Kasius who swings in a brilliant cross that’s begging to be hit. They’re lining up for it: Parrott, Belic, Poku… but no one can get the touch to take an unlikely lead.

47’ – MOORE IS SPARKLING: THAT’S a way to announce yourself on your first home start! It’s sensational by Moore who turns this way and that up the left then finds Brennan Johnson – on for Timo Werner – with a sumptuous pass from the outside of his boot. However, the shot deflects off the heel of David Moller Wolfe to safety.

51’ – PENALTY! It’s really been coming! VAR will look as Maddison and Richarlison square up over who will take it. Dekker chopped Bergvall as AZ were all at sea from a long ball.

53’ – GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 AZ ALKMAAR (RICHARLISON): That’s such a bold choice after fighting your captain over the spot-kick! Richarlison stutter-steps, then prods the penalty straight down the centre of the goal, where Owusu-Oduro had just vacated.

75’ – MASSIVE CHANCE: How has this game still only got one goal? Parrott puts Lahdo through on goal after Ben Davies is caught out, and the substitute drills it low and hard. But Forster reads it well and puts his whole body behind the ball, retaining the slender lead.

87’ – TWO IN TWO: It’s a second red card in as many games for David Moller Woffe! Sent off after just 10 minutes at the weekend against PSV, he receives a second yellow for catching Johnson after he’d passed the ball.

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