Wednesday night’s Champions League’s quarter-final produced incredible drama, as Tottenham and Liverpool made it through to the last four of Europe’s elite competition. Here is what happened in an incredible night of football:
Spurs through on away goal at City after VAR controversy
Manchester City recorded a 4-3 win over Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium, which meant the aggregate score finished 4-4, with the north London club heading through to the semi-final’s courtesy of away goals. However, their passage to the last four was certainly not simply, as VAR had a big hand in the victory.
The game started at breakneck speed with five goals scored in the first 21 minutes. City levelled the scores on aggregate after just four minutes, as Raheem Sterling cut inside curled home past Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham then took control of the game with Heung-Min Son firing home a brace on seven and ten minutes. However, Bernardo Silva’s deflected strike virtually straight from the kick-off.
Sterling then tapped home at the far post to give City the lead on the night. City took the lead for the first time in the tie just before the hour mark, as Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero smashed an effort past Lloris.
Big VAR decisions decide the tie
Then came the first big VAR call of the night on 73 minutes. Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier fired in a corner kick that hit substitute Fernando Llorente on the arm before hitting his hip and beating Ederson.
Referee Cuneyt Cakir checked on the legitimacy of the goal via the pitch sides screens after a VAR check was requested for handball. However, after viewing the incident the Turkish referee allowed the goal.
There was even bigger drama to come involving VAR. Sterling fired home from an Aguero cross in stoppage-time which led to jubilant scenes amongst the home fans. However, after a short stoppage for a VAR check, the officials decided to disallow the goal, as Aguero was offside in the build-up.
That was the last action of an absolutely pulsating Champions League clash. Spurs go on to face Champions League giant-killers Ajax in the semi-finals. Mauricio Pochettino’s team are favourites to progress past the Dutch side into the final.
Liverpool cruise past Porto
Liverpool took the lead on 26 minutes, as Sadio Mane tapped home from a Mohamed Salah cross. There was a VAR review for offside before the officials allowed the effort to stand. Salah got on the scoresheet in 65 minutes finishing from a superb Trent Alexander-Arnold through-ball.
Eder Militao headed home a consolation goal from Alex Telles three minutes later for the home side. However, the visitors made it three on 77 minutes as Roberto Firmino finished from a Jordan Henderson pass. Centre-back Virgil van Dijk put the icing on the cake heading home with just six minutes left on the clock.
The victory was a highly comfortable one for Jurgen Klopp’s team. It seems likely that Lionel Messi’s Barcelona should off the Reds far more to think about in the semi-finals.
Will Tottenham and Liverpool make the Champions League final this season?
