Image Credit: Premier League
By Lee Clow
17 April 2019 | Champions League
With the help of VAR, Tottenham overcame Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi final for the first time in their history, after an exhilarating second leg.
VAR was needed twice in this second leg which added tension to an instant classic in the Champions League. The first decision came after Fernando Llorente scored the vital and in the end winning goal for Tottenham. Trippier's corner was met at the front post by the Spaniard's hip, and despite referee Cuneyt Cakir checking VAR for a suspected handball, the goal stood. The second decision came right in the dying seconds of the game when Raheem Sterling thought to have scored his hat trick sending City through to the semi finals. From the replays it showed Sergio Aguero was offside when he collected the ball before sliding it to Sterling leading to the goal being ruled out. This was a huge call as it meant Tottenham went through to the Champions League semi final with a 4-4 away goals win.
Before all the drama, the game started at a frantic pace with 5 goals being scored by both sides in the opening 20 minutes. Raheem Sterling cancelled out Tottenham’s advantage from the first leg after striking from outside the area in the 4th minute. Despite the sucker punch, only 3 minutes later, Son Heung-min fired Tottenham level and back in front of the tie. The goals did not stop as Son again fired a beautiful strike past Ederson to give Tottenham a nice cushion in the tie. Only a minute later, Bernardo Silva put City level on the night with a shot that deflected past Hugo Lloris. The goal scoring spree soon ended after Kevin De Bruyne fired in a supercross along the box which was met by Sterling to score his second goal of the game.
City now only needed one more goal to take control of the game and in the second half, they continued to push for a fourth goal. The fourth goal for City finally came as Kevin De Bruyne was involved again slipping in Sergio Aguero to bullet home a strike past Hugo Lloris at his near post.
Tottenham began to tire and City kept pounding on the north London clubs defence. In a turn of events, Spurs earned themselves a corner and the cross by Trippier was met by Llorente. The Spaniards goal stood after a VAR check and reclaimed Tottenham’s control of the tie.
In what seemed to be the end of the game, there was still time for more gripping, late drama as Sterling thought he had completed his hat-trick from Aguero's cross. The City players and fans were celebrating as they thought they were through to the semi finals, however their joy was short lived. VAR was called into action again and claimed Aguero was offside when receiving the ball, resulting in the last minute goal being ruled out.
As the final whistle blew, the Tottenham players raised themselves from their haunches to celebrate the most breath-taking of victories in defeat.
The victory for Spurs sends them into their first Champions League semi final, where they will face Ajax. Meanwhile for City, the defeat in the tie ends their hopes of achieving the quadruple this season.
Spurs boss, Pochettino stated his thoughts on the emphatic game. "It was unbelievable, the way it finished. I am so happy, so proud. My players are heroes to be here…In a moment many things happened in your head. The disappointment was massive but they changed the decision.” Pochettino continued “That is why we love football. Today we showed great character and great personality. It was an unbelievable game."
Pep Guardiola in his press conference spoke on how cruel it was for his side to be eliminated from the Champions League as well as congratulating Spurs for their success. "It is cruel but it is what it is and we have to accept it.” Guardiola continued "Unfortunately, it was a bad end for us, so congratulations to Tottenham and good luck for the semi-finals…I support VAR but maybe from one angle Fernando Llorente's goal is handball, maybe from the referee's angle it is not”
What’s next?
Tottenham and Manchester City face each other once again at the Etihad but this time domestically in the Premier League on Saturday.
Comments