Odobert inspires Spurs to last eight
Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 1 AZ Alkmaar (Tottenham won 3-2 on aggregate)
Wilson Odobert scored twice to rescue Tottenham Hotspur’s season as they overturned a first-leg deficit to beat AZ Alkmaar and secure a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Stadium - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
With Spurs languishing in 13th place in the Premier League and already out of both domestic cups, this competition represents their last opportunity for success this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s side had been disappointing in the first leg, losing 1-0 in the Netherlands, but delivered a much-improved performance in front of their home fans.
Odobert opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, drilling into the top corner after being picked out in space by Dominic Solanke.
Spurs took the aggregate lead early in the second half when James Maddison exchanged passes with Son Heung-min inside the box before curling home a fine finish.
However, a lapse in concentration saw AZ claw their way back into the tie. A mix-up between Odobert and Lucas Bergvall gifted Peer Koopmeiners the opportunity to fire past Guglielmo Vicario.
Odobert, though, made amends with the winning goal, capping off a slick team move that started in Tottenham’s own half. The French forward was on hand to tap in from close range after a flick-on from Solanke.
AZ had a golden chance to take the game to extra time, with former Spurs forward Troy Parrott’s shot saved by Vicario and Mees de Wit’s rebound heroically cleared off the line by Yves Bissouma.
The result sets up a quarter-final showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt, who progressed with a dominant 6-2 aggregate win over Ajax.
A summary of a strange Spurs season
Tottenham had plenty to celebrate - as well as a few trademark shaky moments - as they won a game of huge consequence.
It gives boss Ange Postecoglou some breathing space for another month, with their games against Frankfurt on 10 and 17 April.
Spurs showed a positive attitude in the second leg and scored from their first chance. Son blocked a clearance and Solanke squared unselfishly for Odobert to net his first goal since a £25m move from Burnley in the summer.
Solanke showed intent by grabbing the ball off the AZ goalkeeper and running back to the halfway line as he looked to get things going again immediately.
Spurs captain Son looked bright and caused the AZ defence problems - and was involved in his side taking the lead in the tie.
The hosts won the ball back in their own half, and Maddison netted after a give-and-go with the South Korea forward.
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But just as things were looking comfortable, Spurs let AZ back into the tie out of nowhere. Odobert let the ball run for Bergvall, who kicked the ball off his team-mate to let Koopmeiners in to score.
However, after that blip, it was back to the good side of Tottenham as they scored a flowing 'Ange-ball' goal.
Maddison ran forward with the ball and Djed Spence's cross was flicked on by Solanke for Odobert to slot into an empty net from four yards out.
But Spurs are unable to sit back and see a game out comfortably. They left AZ striker Parrott, a former Spurs youngster, free in the box twice for late opportunities.
The first saw both the Irishman and De Wit denied - and then Mexx Meerdink headed over instead of letting the ball run for Parrott, who may have been better placed.
Tottenham are through, though - and in another boost, first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were able to start together for the first time since December.
