Richarlison (R) was the hero for Tottenham as his penalty earned victory over Alkmaar(Image: PA)

Richarlison wins argument with James Maddison as Tottenham edge past Alkmaar

by · Irish Mirror

Richarlison won his penalty debate with James Maddison and the match to maintain Tottenham ’s 100 per cent record in the Europa League.

But Ange Postecoglou’s B team needed three fine saves from Fraser Forster to deny AZ Alkmaar in a display as flat as the Dutch countryside. Brazilian Richarlison admitted before facing England in March that his mental health problems had caused him to consider quitting football.

And his first start of the season last night was delayed by a calf injury. So when Lucas Bergvall earned a second-half penalty, the £60m star insisted on taking the spot kick until stand-in skipper Maddison relented. Richarlison stepped up to score his first goal of another troubled season with a 53rd-minute Panenka - and was later given a standing ovation by Spurs fans when he was subbed off.

It was a rare good night for the former Watford and Everton forward in a Spurs display as flat as the Dutch countryside. Postecoglou had made nine changes from his weekend Premier League team against West Ham with Destiny Udogie and Maddison the only survivors.

The England midfielder captained a team containing the teenage talents of Archie Gray, Bergvall and Mikey Moore. Moore, 17, had a great early chance to mark his first home start with a goal but he headed wide from Timo Werner’s cross.

The German squandered Spurs’ two best chances in the rest of the half. First the former Chelsea forward shot weakly at keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro when released by a delicious through ball by Bergvall. And then Werner sliced wide when Richarlison, making his first start of the season, sent him through on goal.

The two best saves of a dreary opening 45 minutes came at the other end from Fraser Forster. The former England keeper first pawed away a powerful Alexandre Penetra header from a corner. And then Forster raced from his line to save from Denso Kasius after the sub was found by a fine ball from ex-Tottenham forward Troy Parrott.

Richarlison argued with James Maddison over who would take the Tottenham penalty(Image: Getty Images)

Like most Spurs fans, Postecoglou had seen enough of Werner and replaced him with Brennan Johnons at the break. Tottenham immediately improved with crowd favourite Moore switched to the left. His cross was pushed away by Owuso-Oduro before Lucas Bergvall won the 51st-minute penalty when he was upended by Maxim Dekker.

Maddison giving the ball to Richarlison proved to be the only assist of the night. Even then the game was not over. Rodrigo Bentancur made a block to deny Ernest Poku while Forster made another solid save when sub Mayckel Lahdo was clean through. But David Moller Wolfe was dismissed after 85 minutes after picking up a second yellow card.

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