Image Credit: Cartilage Free Captain
By Lee Clow 9 April 2019 | Champions League
Heung-Min Son scored again for Spurs to give them a valuable 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, after Sergio Aguero had a first-half penalty saved by Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham’s first Champions League game under the lights of their new stadium could not have gone any better as they secured a vital win and clean sheet over Manchester City in the first leg of the quarter final.
Despite the victory, the game could have been a whole different story when Manchester City were awarded a spot kick 11 minutes into the game, after a VAR review. VAR was called into action after Raheem Sterling’s shot appeared to hit the arm of Tottenham defender Danny Rose. After a long review, the penalty was given and Sergio Aguero stepped up to take the spot kick. Having saved the past 2 penalties he had faced, Hugo Lloris once again proved his class by guessing the right away to deny Aguero the opening goal. The save was given a huge uproar from the fans and gave Tottenham the belief to win the game.
Throughout the game, Spurs appeared to be the better of the 2 sides with City looking far from there best. Chances starting to wear thin in the closing stages of the match but it was Spurs who managed to find the vital breakthrough. Christian Eriksen floated in a beautiful ball towards Son who’s first touch took him towards the byline but luckily the South Korean showed great balance to keep the ball in. Son then cut back onto his left foot and struck a low powerful drive under Ederson to give Spurs the lead 12 minutes before time. The man who made history by scoring the first goal at Spurs' new stadium on its opening night last week, continued writing himself into Tottenham folk law.
After the goal, City were very flat when looking for an equaliser with Tottenham’s defence getting the better over their attack force.
Despite looking like a perfect night for Tottenham, it was spoiled by the fact starman Harry Kane had to go off to injury. Whilst going in for a challenge with England team mate Fabian Delph, Kane sustained a serious looking injury to his ankle, the same left ankle which kept him out for six weeks at the beginning of the year. As soon as the challenge was made, Kane knew he’d had caused damaged to his ankle and immediately hobbled off the pitch. With a return to injury looking unlikely for Kane, Spurs will have to rely on key men like Son, if they are going to achieve top 4 as well as progress into the semi final of the Champions League.
After the game, Mauricio Pochettino spoke on the injury to his main star, Kane. "Yes. We need to check tomorrow but it looks the same, a similar issue…I'm very sad, very disappointed, and it's going to be tough for the rest of the season."
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola was optimistic in his press conference despite the defeat. "It leaves us in this situation in the second leg, but sometimes 1-0 can be better than 0-0 because you know exactly what you have to do.
What’s next?
Before the second leg of this tie is played, both sides are back in Premier League action. Tottenham play their third game at their new stadium in a row against relegated Huddersfield Town on Saturday, while City travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The 2 sides meet again on Wednesday, April 17.
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