Odobert Double helps Tottenham Progress to Quarter-Finals
Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar
Wilson Odobert struck his first goals for Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling encounter that saw the team overturn a first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar, propelling them into the last eight of the UEFA Europa League. The match, which unfolded with high stakes and palpable tension, had begun with Spurs trailing 1-0 from their earlier defeat in the Netherlands. That first leg, played just a week prior, had left the team with a mountain to climb, but Odobert, a French forward who had endured an injury-plagued campaign up to that point, rose to the occasion magnificently. In the first half, he leveled the tie with his inaugural goal in Tottenham colors, a moment that seemed to lift the weight of his struggles off his shoulders and inject fresh hope into the squad. Then, late in the second period, he delivered the decisive blow, putting Spurs 3-1 ahead on the night and clinching the tie with a flourish that showcased his burgeoning talent. That second strike, a beautifully crafted team goal, had come as the finishing touch to a move that flowed seamlessly from back to front, epitomizing the collective spirit that defined Spurs’ resurgence in this match. By the time the final whistle blew, Odobert’s brace had not only erased the deficit but also secured a quarter-final showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt, a fixture that loomed tantalizingly on the horizon for the following month.
The game had not been a straightforward affair, however, as it ebbed and flowed with moments of brilliance and tension in equal measure. In between Odobert’s two goals, James Maddison had played a pivotal role in tilting the tie in Spurs’ favor. He had put the team 2-0 up on the night, marking the first time they had taken the lead across the two legs, with a goal that sparked wild celebrations among the home faithful. Yet, the advantage proved fleeting, as AZ Alkmaar’s Peer Koopmeiners responded with a strike that leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, plunging the outcome back into uncertainty. The Dutch side, resilient and determined, had refused to capitulate, and for a spell, it seemed as though the match might slip away from Tottenham’s grasp. The atmosphere in the stadium, already electric from the outset, had grown increasingly fraught as the second half wore on, with every tackle, pass, and shot carrying the weight of the team’s European ambitions. It was Odobert, though, who ultimately settled the nerves, striking again to restore Spurs’ lead and ensure their progression. His performance had been a revelation, transforming what could have been a night of frustration into one of triumph, and his name echoed around the stands as the hero of the hour.
The match had kicked off with a sense of renewal for Tottenham, bolstered by the return of key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero to the starting lineup. The pair had not featured together since a disheartening loss to Chelsea at home in December, and their presence lent a solidity that had been sorely missed. As the clock ticked closer to kick-off, the atmosphere had swelled with anticipation, the crowd acutely aware of the stakes riding on this second leg. Both teams had started brightly, each probing for an early breakthrough, but despite the brisk tempo, clear-cut chances remained scarce in the opening exchanges. It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that the first real test arrived, when Heung-Min Son whipped in a dangerous cross that AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro had to punch clear under pressure from Dominic Solanke. The incident hinted at the threat Spurs posed, but it was a fleeting moment in a first quarter that largely unfolded as a tactical chess match. Then, four minutes later, the deadlock broke in dramatic fashion. A wayward pass from AZ forced their defenders to retreat deep into their own territory, and Son, ever tenacious, pounced on centre-half Wouter Goes as he attempted to clear. The ball ricocheted fortuitously to Solanke, who calmly laid it off to Odobert, charging forward with purpose. The Frenchman wasted no time, hammering a shot from 15 yards that rocketed past Owusu-Oduro and sent the crowd into raptures. It was a goal born of opportunism and instinct, and it set the tone for what would become a memorable night.
The first half had continued to unfold with Spurs asserting themselves, particularly through Son, who saw plenty of the ball on the left flank. His driving runs had caused problems for AZ’s defense, though he struggled to find the final touch, with one such foray ending in Odobert scooping a shot over the bar. The visitors, meanwhile, had been handed a rare opening in the 42nd minute when a defensive lapse gifted Zico Buurmeester a sight of goal, but the midfielder’s half-volley sailed wide from 20 yards, sparing Tottenham’s blushes. Just before the interval, Maddison had come close to doubling the lead, his 22-yard free-kick clipping the wall and soaring narrowly over the crossbar. The teams retreated to the dressing rooms with the tie poised at 1-1 on aggregate, the outcome hanging delicately in the balance. The second half had begun with a jolt for Spurs, as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario nearly gifted AZ an equalizer with a moment of indecision. Koopmeiners had almost stolen the ball from his feet, but Vicario recovered just in time to avert disaster. Moments later, the tide turned decisively in Tottenham’s favor. Pedro Porro had sparked the move with a crunching tackle in midfield, feeding Odobert, who in turn found Maddison. The playmaker then linked up with Son, who picked out Maddison again inside the box, and the midfielder dispatched a precise right-footed shot into the far corner. The goal had given Spurs a 2-0 lead on the night and, crucially, the edge in the tie, igniting hopes of a comfortable passage to the next round.
AZ Alkmaar, however, had refused to fade quietly into the night. Though they had posed little threat for much of the game, the necessity of a goal had spurred them into action, and they nearly equalized on 58 minutes when Jordy Clasie’s effort from a short corner drifted just wide. Five minutes later, their persistence paid off, as Koopmeiners capitalized on a mix-up between Odobert and Lucas Bergvall in the Spurs penalty area to fire home and restore parity at 2-2 on aggregate. The setback had tested Tottenham’s resolve, but they responded with a goal of breathtaking quality. It had started with Vicario in goal, the ball worked patiently through the lines, from defense to midfield and out to the left, where Djed Spence delivered a pinpoint cross. Solanke’s deft flick had kept the move alive, and Odobert, lurking at the back post, applied the final touch to restore Spurs’ lead at 3-2 on aggregate. The goal, a symphony of teamwork and precision, had been met with a roar that shook the stadium, a testament to its brilliance and its significance. As the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes, the game had opened up, with both sides pushing their limits. Vicario had redeemed his earlier wobble with a superb save to deny former Spur Troy Parrott, while Yves Bissouma’s goalline clearance from Mees de Wit had preserved the lead. AZ’s late pressure had intensified, with Mexx Meerdink heading over and Kees Smit striking the side-netting, but Spurs stood firm. Even as AZ threw everyone forward for a desperate last-gasp free-kick, goalkeeper included, Tottenham cleared their lines and held on, their Europa League journey extended into the quarter-finals on a night defined by Odobert’s heroics.
