Tottenham player ratings vs AZ: Mathys Tel and Heung-min Son blunt as Guglielmo Vicario save Spurs' blushes | OneFootball

Loan signing continues to struggle while leading the line

Ineffectual: Mathys Tel

Action Images via Reuters

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick

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Tottenham’s season is hanging by a thread after they lost 1-0 to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 in Holland.

AZ scored the winner after 18 minutes when Lucas Bergvall sliced an attempted clearance, which looped over Guglielmo Vicario and Djed Spence on the goal-line and dropped into his own net.

Vicario saved from Troy Parrott and Ernest Poku to keep an abject Spurs in the game, and Ange Postecoglou’s side offered little going forward, aside from a Lucas Bergvall shot which was just wide of the far post. Dominic Solanke made his return from injury, but was soon after forced off after colliding with the opposition goalkeeper.

Here’s how we rated the Spurs players…

Guglielmo Vicario 8

His saves to deny a clean-through Parrott and Poku could prove huge moments in the tie.

Djed Spence 6

Tested by Poku in the first half. Looked livelier when he moved to the left flank for the final 20 minutes.

Archie Gray 5

Given a tough examination by Parrott, who looked determined to make an impact against his former club.

Kevin Danso 5

Does not look as comfortable on the left side and some of his passing was erratic.

Destiny Udogie 5

Offered little going forward in another middling display since his return from injury.

Rodrigo Bentancur 5

Often outnumbered by a compact AZ midfield and struggled to control the game.

Lucas Bergvall 7

Desperately unlucky with the own goal, particularly as he was Spurs’ brightest player. Sent a shot skimming just wide of the far post.

James Maddison 4

A botched free-kick routine in the first half summed up his and Spurs’ night. Offered little in the way of creativity.

Brennan Johnson 4

Blazed a shot over in the first half but largely anonymous.

Heung-min Son 4

When Spurs needed thrust and ingenuity from wide areas, the Korean mostly played with his back to goal and struggled to make an impact. Moved up front in the second half and fired a shot over the bar.

Mathys Tel 4

Showed the odd glimpse of improved hold-up play but this was another desperately ineffective display at centre-forward from the January signing.

Subs

Wilson Odobert (Tel 46’) 6

Made a positive difference with some lively runs and had a couple of half-chances late on.

Pedro Porro (Udogie 72’) 5

Got forward in Spurs’ late but fruitless push for a leveller.

Dominic Solanke (Son 72’) 5

His return to the pitch was short-lived after he was forced off in stoppage-time after taking a blow to the back. His latest injury capped a terrible night for Spurs.

Pape Matar Sarr (Maddison 72’) 5

Neat and tidy in possession but lacking drive.

Dane Scarlett (Solanke 90’) N/A

Not used: Austin, Whiteman, Bissouma, Romero, van de Ven, Moore.