Richarlison’s second-half penalty gave Tottenham a 1-0 home win over AZ Alkmaar to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Europa League.
The Brazilian scored his first goal of the season to make it three wins from three in the competition for Ange Postecoglou’s side, who sit second in the 36-team league table behind leaders Lazio on goal difference.
There was a brief argument between James Maddison and Richarlison over the taking of the penalty with Spurs’ stand-in captain eventually handing the ball to the striker, who converted down the middle in the 53rd minute.
But while Richarlison got off the mark on his first start of the season, the frustration continues for fellow attacker Timo Werner who wasted two chances in the first half and was substituted for Brennan Johnson at half-time.
The German has not scored in his last 16 Spurs appearances and the player who took up his position on the left in the second half, Mikey Moore, was electric.
The 17-year-old academy graduate inspired an improved second half which saw Spurs win a penalty when Lucas Bergvall was brought down by Maxim Dekker with the spot-kick scored by Richarlison.
Fraser Forster made a good save late on to deny Mayckel Lahdo, but any hope of a comeback for the Dutch side was extinguished in the 85th minute when David Moller Wolfe was sent off for a second booking.
There was to be no goal on Troy Parrott’s Spurs return after he joined AZ in the summer as Spurs made it back-to-back wins after Saturday’s Premier League victory over West Ham.
Maddison explains Richarlison penalty decision
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison speaking to TNT Sports:
“Initially we both wanted to take it. I’m a senior player, I was the captain today and I was going to take it.
“I had a little thought in my head and just thought Richy’s come back from an injury, it can be difficult coming back, especially as a striker – I knew that last year, it took me a while to get my first goal.
“That really gives confidence. It was a split-second to let him take it and it’ll do him the world of good.
“It’s about leadership, I wore the armband tonight but even if I wasn’t [wearing it], I’d still like to think I’d make decisions which were best for the team.
“Richy’s a good penalty taker and hopefully it gives him a big boost.”
