Tottenham maintain perfect Europa League start as Richarlison penalty seals win

PERFECT START: Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison (right) celebrates scoring their side's goal.

Tottenham 1 (Richarlison pen 53) AZ Alkmaar 0

TROY PARROTT returned to the Tottenham Hotspur stadiun with a point to prove but he and his team-mates left without a point, as a Richarlison penalty early in the second half was enough to make it three wins from three and joint leadership of the Europa League table for Tottenham.

Parrott made his Spurs debut under Jose Mourinho at 17, the same age as Mikey Moore who is the latest young starlet coming through at Tottenham. The club – and fans – had high hopes that the young Dubliner would follow the path of Harry Kane from youth team to international stardom, but for various reasons it never happened.

Parrott got into the Ireland side but got no farther in north London, with a succession of loan spells to Ipswich, Millwall, MK Dons and Preston, before moving abroad to the Netherlands, initially on loan at Excelsior last season, and then in a permanent €8m Euro move to AZ Alkmaar in July.

The 22-year-old admitted in a pre-match interview that he felet destineed to return to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, and thus it came to pass last night.

But it was not a night to remember for the Dutch, who have now lost five games in a row in all competitions and had defender David Moller Wolfe sent off in the closing stages for a second yellow card.

It was another satisfying night for Ange Postecoglou, who was able to rest most of his first-choice players ahead of this Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace.

Spurs were mostly in control, especially in the first-half. Parrott's first involvement was to be clattered by Radu Dragusin in the sixth minute. Some welcome home. His first touch did not come until the 21st minute, a shot that was blocked on the edge of the penalty area, but he did set up a chance for team-mate Denso Kassius after a terrible back pass from Timo Werner. Otherwise Parrott did not really get a sniff of goal.

Werner also had another night to forget, spurning two great chances and looking well short of confidence, and it was little surprise that he was hooked at half-time. Moore, who looks to be the real deal, was shifted to the left wing and immediately looked more dangerous than Werner, dribbling past his markers with ease and firing in dangerous crosses and shots.

But it was from the penalty spot that Tottenham took the lead in the 53rd minute, after Maxim Dekker chopped down Lucas Bergvall from behind. James Maddison and Richarlison, back for his first start of the season, initially argued about who should take the spot-kick befoe Maddison appeared to win the argument but sportingly handed the ball to his Brazilian team-mate, who chipped it cheekily over the diving Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro. The Dutch keeper had not been tested too much up to that point, while Fraser Forster in the opposing goal needed to make a spectacular save to keep out Alex Penetra's powerful first-half header, and then stop a thunderbolt from Mayckel Lahdo in the closing stages.

The Dutch side have had contrasting fortunes this season, winning six of their opening seven games including a 9-1 win over Herenveen, with Parrott scoring four against the team managed by former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Robin Van Persie. But they had lost all four games leading into this match and have now extended that run to five defeats.

Their cause was not helped when Moller Wolfe was sent off five minutes from the end for a second yellow card.

Both teams had chances in the final stages, with Alkmar's best player Ernest Poku, 20, always a threat with his pace. Tottenham's also went close when Odobert Wilson, returning from injury as a late substiute, shot past the post.

The result means Tottenham maintained their 100 per cent record in the competition, and are second to leaders Lazio only on goal difference. But Parrott and his team-mates will struggle to reach the knockout phase.

Tottenham (4-3-3): Forster 7; Gray 7, Dragusin 7, Davies 7, Udogie 7; Bergvall 7 (Kulusevski 72), Bentancur 8, Maddison 7 (Sarr 72); Moore 8 (Odobert 87), Richarlison 7 (Solanke 64), Werner 4 (Johnson 46).

AZ Alkmaar (4-3-3): Owusu-Oduro 6; Maikuma 5 (Lahdo 68), Penetra 6, Dekker 6 (Kwakman 84), Moller Wolfe 4; Clasie 5, Mijnans 6 (de Wit 84), Belic 6 (Koopmeiners 46); Poku 8, Parrott 6, van Bommel 6 (Kassius 12).

Referee: Manfredas Lukjancukas (Lithuania) 8/10