Europa League: Sorry Spurs Lose To AZ As Man U, Sociedad Settle For Draw

Tottenham must beat AZ next week to keep their faint silverware hopes alive after Lucas Bergvall’s freak own goal gave the Dutch side a 1-0 lead in their Europa League last-16 tie.

Despite resting Heung-Min Son and Djed Spence in their last game against Manchester City eight days ago, Spurs’ freshness did little to help them as their hosts dominated from start to finish and were unfortunate not to win by a greater margin.

“Tottenham were miles off it,” said former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara on Sky Sports News. “Tottenham’s big players didn’t turn up.”

Despite AZ’s superiority, the first leg was only settled by Bergvall’s unfortunate intervention 18 minutes in, when he swiped at a corner and looped the ball over a hapless Guglielmo Vicario and in for the hosts’ winner.

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Former Spurs forward Troy Parrott, who had already seen a shot blocked by Archie Gray, should have doubled AZ’s lead before the break but saw his poor finish kept out by Vicario.

Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad in their Europa League round of 16 first leg after Bruno Fernandes gave away a penalty for handball.

Mikel Oyarzabal, the scorer of the goal that broke England hearts in the Euro final against Spain, converted from the spot with 20 minutes left as the game turned on its head after Joshua Zirkzee had given United a deserved lead earlier in the second half.

It is the Europa League or bust for United this season and they responded well to the pressure, producing one of their better performances under Ruben Amorim, and will feel disappointed not to have taken a lead back to Manchester after missing key chances.