Teenager Mikey Moore delivered an electric second-half display as Tottenham defeated AZ Alkmaar to continue their winning start in the new-look Europa League.
The highly-rated academy graduate was almost unplayable at times after the interval as Spurs put one foot in the knockout rounds with a third consecutive victory in the new league phase of Europe’s secondary club competition, with Richarlison’s first goal since May - and his first at home since January - from the penalty spot sealing a hard-fought 1-0 win.
Spurs showed nine changes from Saturday’s 4-1 drubbing of London rivals West Ham that saw them bounce back from their utter capitulation at Brighton before the international break, with only James Maddison - who was hooked at half-time at the weekend - retained alongside Destiny Udogie as he took the captain’s armband in the absence of usual skipper Heung-min Son, who was rested having only just returned from injury.
Tottenham dominated the first-half possession but were frustrated in search of the opening goal, Moore glancing a header wide of the back post from close range within minutes after great work from Timo Werner, who missed two excellent chances of his own before being withdrawn at half-time in favour of Brennan Johnson.
Fraser Forster - making a rare start in goal - also made a strong save to keep out a header from Alexandre Penetra as AZ Alkmaar also had a huge threat on the counter-attack in the form of winger Ernest Poku, while Maddison was denied a penalty after a risky lunging challenge from Penetra near the byline.
Tottenham made an inspired start to the second half, with Moore the architect as he bamboozled the AZ Alkmaar defence time and time again, setting up substitute Johnson for an effort that was blocked and confidently demanding the ball as he delivered a succession of menacing crosses.
Spurs did finally take the lead through Richarlison, who cheekily chipped a penalty down the middle after an animated and lengthy discussion with Maddison after Lucas Bergvall had been fouled by Maxim Dekker inside the box.
Richarlison and Johnson almost combined for a quick-fire second as Moore continued to terrorise AZ Alkmaar, who saw Norwegian left-back David Moller Wolfe sent off for the second match in a row for two bookable offences that rather took the sting out of their spirited late comeback attempts.
