Tottenham maintained their perfect start in the Europa League with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over AZ Alkmaar, decided by Richarlison’s second-half penalty.
The Brazil forward made no mistake following an animated discussion with James Maddison over who should take the spot-kick, awarded when Lucas Bergvall was brought down.
Here are three Spurs talking points from the game.
Moore hype train continues on difficult night for Werner
Mikey Moore produced another eye-catching performance to justify the hype and take a decisive step in front of Timo Werner in Ange Postecoglou’s pecking order.
For 25 minutes from the start of the second half, Moore was outstanding after switching to the left flank following Postecoglou’s decision to replace the wasteful Werner with Brennan Johnson at the interval.
The 17-year-old repeatedly demanded the ball, and AZ struggled to contain him as he wove inside and out.
Within minutes of the restart, he picked out Johnson at the far post with an outstanding pass, shortly before whipping in an inviting cross which evaded Richarlison, Bergvall and the upright.
Moore also sent a fierce effort narrowly wide of the base of the post and tested the goalkeeper after driving inside on his right foot.
His performance was all the more impressive because he might have hidden after missing a glorious early chance to open the scoring, sending Werner’s brilliant cross wide with a glancing header from five yards.
For Werner, that was as good as it got as the German’s difficult run in front of goal continued. He twice wasted good chances in the first half, tamely shooting at the goalkeeper from Bergvall’s brilliant pass and firing wide after good work by Richarlison.
Postecoglou’s decision to hook Werner at the interval will not do his fragile confidence any good, with Moore currently a far more compelling option to play from the left.
Spurs have one foot in next round already
On Wednesday, Jose Mourinho named his former clubs Manchester United and Spurs as the favourites for the Europa League and the Londoners, at least, are living up to the tag.
Three games into the revamped competition, Spurs have nine points on the board – enough to guarantee a spot in the play-offs according to Opta’s statisticians – and one foot in the knockouts already.
It has not been plain sailing in any of their three matches and they were bailed out by smart saves from Fraser Forster either side of the interval against AZ.
But Postecoglou’s heavily-rotated and youthful sides have had enough quality to get the job done, raising the possibility that the head coach could play even more experimental teams towards the end of the ‘league phase’.
Spurs have tended to make hard work of the cups in recent reasons, particularly with rotated teams, and historically have rarely taken the Europa League seriously.
Postecoglou’s side, though, are growing into the revamped competition confidently, while being able to rest the likes of Heung-min Son.
Spurs’ toughest games are arguably to come, with trips to Galatasaray, Rangers and Hoffenheim and home games against Roma and Elfsborg, but for now they are in a position of strength and justifying Mourinho's view.
Maddison makes his point
Five days after being hooked for Pape Matar Sarr at half-time of the win over West Ham, Maddison played like he had a point to prove, particularly in an outstanding first 45 minutes.
AZ struggled to handle the England playmaker, who was full of mazy dribbles and purposeful passing, appearing far the most likely Spurs player to fashion a breakthrough.
He had a case for a penalty on 31 minutes after turning Alexandre Penetra inside out, though replays suggested the defender got a touch on the ball as part of a clumsy challenge from behind.
Sure enough, when the referee did point to the spot, it was after a smart run by Maddison onto Rodrigo Bentancur’s pass, though Bergvall was the player scythed down by Maxim Dekker.
Maddison also demonstrated his leadership by appearing to allow Richarlison to take the decisive penalty after initially appearing to talk down the Brazilian.
He faded as the game progressed and was replaced by Sarr for the final 20 minutes. He had made his case, though, and it is difficult to call which of the pair is best-placed to start at No8 against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
