Richarlison winner gives Tottenham victory in Europa League
Richarlison scored his first goal since May after a calf issue, but only after an awkward moment with James Maddison.
Richarlison marked his first start of the season with a second-half winner to help Tottenham edge past AZ Alkmaar by a 1-0 score and earn a third consecutive Europa League win.
The Brazil international chipped home from the penalty spot in the 53rd-minute, which ensured he avoided a post-match dressing down after he initially would not give the ball to stand-in captain James Maddison.
When Maddison did get the ball back, he quickly had a change of heart and let Richarlison take the spot-kick and score for the first time since May after a troublesome calf injury to help Spurs clinch a seventh win from eight games.
Ange Postecoglou made nine changes from the 4-1 win over West Ham with Mikey Moore was handed his first start at home.
Moore should have marked it with a goal in the fifth minute, but headed wide from close-range after an excellent inswinging cross by Timo Werner.
AZ lost Ruben van Bommel, the son of former Netherlands international Mark, to an injury after 12 minutes, but a fine run by Ernest Poku created an opportunity for ex-Spurs forward Troy Parrott, but his low effort was blocked.
Chances remained limited before the match burst into life when a wonderful outside of the boot pass by Lucas Bergvall sent Werner away only for the RB Leipzig loanee to side-foot weakly straight at Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
The visitors responded when Sven Mijnans’ corner found Alexandre Penetra, but his powerful header was superbly clawed away by Fraser Forster in the 29th-minute.
Werner sent another effort wide moments later after Richarlison won the ball back before a slack pass by the German attacker forced Forster to rush out to deny Mijnans.
With the breakthrough yet to arrive, Postecoglou made another half-time substitution – like against West Ham – with Werner replaced by Brennan Johnson.
Moore was moved out to his favoured left wing position and responded with a dazzling run and pass into Johnson, but his effort was blocked before the 17-year-old then nearly picked out Richarlison.
Tottenham had gone up a gear and the opener did arrive in the 53rd-minute after Bergvall was brought down by Dekker inside the penalty area.
Maddison required Rodrigo Bentancur to intervene and convince Richarlison to let go of the ball, but after Spurs vice-captain Maddison got the ball back, he had change of heart and let the Brazil international take the spot-kick.
Moore produced more magic soon after when he skipped past Seiya Maikuma and fizzed an effort wide.
AZ had threatened though moments earlier when Radu Dragusin appeared to be fouled but play continued and Bentancur had to slide in to thwart Poku.
Forster was called into action in the 74th-minute with a crucial low save to deny Mayckel Lahdo, but the visitors’ hopes of a late equaliser were dealt a blow when Maxim Dekker was sent off after he received two yellow cards in quick succession as Tottenham held on to stay perfect in the competition.
