Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar (3-2 agg): Wilson Odobert luggage a brace as Ange Postecoglou’s facet overturn first leg deficit to achieve Europa League quarter-finals

Anxiety, brilliance, confusion. Perhaps not quite the complete A to Z of Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou but they made it through the alphabet as far as V is for victory thanks to Wilson Odobert’s emergence as a goal hero.

Odobert has spent most of his first season injured since his £25million move from Burnley last summer but conjured his first goals for the club as Spurs overcame a first leg deficit to see off the challenge of AZ Alkmaar.

He levelled the tie in the first half, had a hand in the second scored by James Maddison and even played a part of the defensive mix-up which helped the Dutch back into it, via a goal by Peer Koopmeiners.

But Odobert’s final act was the decisive one, tapping the winning goal into an open net in the 73rd minute, after a fine sweeping move featuring an overlapping charge down the left and cross by Djed Spence and a flick by Dominic Solanke at the near post.

This being Spurs, it was not without alarm. Guglielmo Vicario made late saves and Yves Bissouma produced a terrific sliding clearance to deny AZ substitute Mees de Wit, protecting Tottenham’s slender lead and booking a Europa League quarter-final with Eintracht Frankfurt next month.

‘On what was a big night, I couldn’t be happier with the way the players and the way they handled it,’ said Postecoglou. ‘We were strong, dominant, aggressive in the front third. They deserved to get through and we’re now in the quarter final of a European competition which is exciting.’

Wilson Odobert (right) scored twice as Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League

Odobert (centre) opened the scoring in the 26th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Frenchman then scored the winning goal midway through the second half of the game 

Odobert was the star of the show as Spurs booked their place in the quarter-finals 

Spurs made a strong start to the game and Odobert levelled the tie midway through the first half after Heung-min Son forced a mistake by Wouter Goes. AZ’s young central defender was forced back to retrieve a ball from a right back position and he took a little too much time.

Son saw his opportunity and made a vital blocked as Goes turned to clear. The ricochet spilled infield, kindly for Solanke who had the composure to roll a pass square to Odobert who arrived to lash a left-footer past Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro for his first goal since scoring for Burnley on the opening day of the Championship season.

‘I’m super pleased because he’s worked hard,’ said Postecoglou. ‘I was excited when we signed him. He has an ability to take people on and find space, he’s a great technician and I’m pleased for him to get goals because he’s worked hard silently to get back.

‘He’s a made a big move to a big club and it hasn’t worked out so far through no fault of own, because of injury. It’s been frustrating for me not to be able to showcase him. That’s just a starting point for him.’

Back on level terms in the tie, the mood inside the stadium lifted, and Tottenham passed the ball with extra zip. Son looked as threatening as he has in weeks, jinking inside from the left while Maddison and Bergvall got on the ball and dictated play in midfield.

It helped to have the insurance of Postecoglou’s first choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven back in the tandem, starting together for the first time since both were injured against Chelsea in early December.

But AZ ventured out a little more after conceding. Vicario, whose saves in the first leg kept his team in the tie, came out smartly at the feet of Ernest Poku and Zico Buurmeester was presented with a chance, albeit a tricky one which he could not catch cleanly before the interval.

Spurs escaped again at the start of the second half when Vicario over indulged on the ball, trying to beat pressure from Koopmeiners by dragging the ball away with the sole of his boot.

James Maddison scored his side’s second goal with a cool finish just inside the area

Maddison performed his celebration with Son Heung-Min after the pair combined for the goal

Peer capitalised on a mistake at the back to briefly restore parity in the Europa League tie

Ange Postecoglou’s side kept their hopes of winning silverware this season alive 

He was fortunate to get away with it, and within seconds Tottenham were at the other end celebrating their second, a move launched by another burst of pace through the centre of the pitch from Odobert and a stylish finish by Maddison following a brisk exchange of passes with Son.

Spurs looked more vulnerable when Van de Ven went off, still not ready for 90 minutes after months of hamstring problems.

AZ midfielder Jordy Clasie flashed a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area before the Dutch levelled the tie through Koopmeiners, with the considerable help of a defensive mix-up between Odobert and Bergvall.

But Odobert settled it, restoring Tottenham’s aggregate lead in the 74th minute and they survived those late scares to move into the last eight with their season and Postecoglou’s quest for a trophy alive.