Wilson Odobert's double fires Tottenham into Europa League quarters

The 20-year-old netted twice in a 3-1 second-leg triumph at home, turning the tie around after a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in the Netherlands.

Manager Ange Postecoglou had faced mounting pressure after a tough winter spell left Spurs languishing in 13th in the Premier League and out of both domestic cups. But his decision to unleash Odobert paid dividends, with the forward opening his account for the club in style.

"I thought we looked more like ourselves," Postecoglou said after the match. "Wilson, Dom [Solanke], and others are still building their match sharpness, but this gives us a chance to get them firing for the quarters."

The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when captain Son Heung-min pounced on a loose ball, setting up Dominic Solanke to tee up Odobert for a clinical finish.

Spurs carried that momentum into the second half, where vice-captain James Maddison struck just three minutes after the restart, slotting home after a slick move involving Son and Pape Matar Sarr.

Despite a brief scare when Peer Koopmeiners pulled one back for AZ in the 63rd minute, Odobert sealed the deal on 74 minutes, tapping in at the back post from a Djed Spence cross flicked on by Solanke.

Postecoglou hailed his leadership group, Son, Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario, and Cristian Romero, who started together for the first time since October. "It's been tough for them, for all of us," he said. "Having all four out there makes a difference. They led the team superbly."

The Aussie boss also admitted the stakes were high. "Tonight was a big night for us, and I couldn't be happier with how the players tackled it."

Tottenham's reward is a quarter-final clash with Eintracht Frankfurt next month, offering a lifeline to a season that had threatened to unravel. The victory marked their fifth win in six home European games against Dutch sides, while AZ's miserable record in England stretched to 10 straight defeats.

"When we're at our best, we can compete with anyone," Postecoglou added, eyeing the return of more key players to bolster their campaign.

For Spurs fans, it's a rare glimmer of hope in a challenging season, with Odobert emerging as the hero to keep their European dreams alive.

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