THE BEST VAR NONE
Review to a thrill as Spurs win the big decisions to end City’s quad bid
IT will go down as a classic. But one decided by VAR, as glory turned to despair on a TV monitor.
Raheem Sterling put the ball in the net in stoppage time and Manchester City supporters celebrated one of the all-time great European victories – only to have it snatched away.
At the other end of the Etihad, Spurs fans celebrated a VAR decision as if it were a winning goal, Mauricio Pochettino’s heroes ending City’s quadruple dreams.
It was in keeping with the topsy-turvy night, the game swinging one way and then the other before Tottenham’s never-say-die spirit took them into the semi-finals.
Sub Fernando Llorente came up with the winner, although there was a lengthy review before it was allowed to stand.
City and Spurs brought the thrills and spills of the Premier League to the Champions League and broke a record in the process with five goals in the opening 21 minutes – three minutes less than the previous best.
City started it after four minutes. Kevin de Bruyne charged forward before opening up the Spurs defence with a wonderful pass to Sterling, who was given too much space by Kieran Trippier and curled a brilliant 20-yard shot into the far corner.
That had the stadium rocking with the supporters who seemed to have responded to Pep Guardiola’s rallying call at their loudest.
The manager had talked about City’s fans creating a big atmosphere and they did not disappoint, with the roof coming off the place.
But they had not seen anything yet as the home crowd were silenced within moments as Spurs responded in stunning style with Heung-Min Son grabbing two quickfire goals.
Four minutes later it as all square. Christian Eriksen led a charge and when Dele Alli tried to nudge a pass through, Aymeric Laporte made an uncharacteristic slip and the impressive Son was presented with the ball which he calmly slotted past Ederson, although the City keeper should have done better.
Laporte, who had been brilliant all season, was at fault again for Spurs’ second, Eriksen and Alli setting up Son to curl a stunner into the top corner. Every time Harry Kane is missing, Son steps up.
That was surely Spurs through and City done.
Not a bit of it – not with such bad defending and both teams going for the jugular.
A minute later Bernardo Silva’s shot was deflected off Danny Rose and in past Spurs No.1 Hugo Lloris.
Then, in 21 minutes, the firsthalf goal rush was completed. Kyle Walker appeared to foul Victor Wanyama, the referee gave it the other way and Bernardo released de Bruyne, whose low cross found Sterling at the back post and he made no mistake.
It was the England forward’s 23rd City goal of the season and it put City back ahead on the night. But with the home side still trailing on away goals they continued to force the pace and the game remained open.
With chances continuing to be created for both sides, Sergio Aguero had a shot blocked before Son beat Kyle Walker at the other end and curled another shot just wide.
De Bruyne scuffed a shot at
Lloris and missed the target with a free-kick
What looked impossible was suddenly back on. City looked vulnerable but kept going forward. Spurs were nervous in defence but dangerous on the break.
Sterling was denied a hattrick by a smart Lloris save and then bettered it with a remarkable one-handed stop to deny de Bruyne.
At the other end Llorente tested Ederson with a header but the momentum was with City. The pressure was relentless and after 59 minutes Tottenham cracked.
De Bruyne drove forward and cleverly played in Aguero. Showing the composure for which he is famed, the Argentine blasted a ferocious shot past Lloris from a tight angle at the keeper’s near post.
For the first time in the tie City were ahead. And having gained the initiative in the tie, Guardiola tried to protect it by sending on Fernandinho. But incredibly Tottenham hit back. Trippier’s 73rd-minute corner found Llorente at the near post and the big Spanish striker deflected the ball into the City net.
There was a suggestion it came off an arm and Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir tortured everyone in the stadium with a lengthy look on a pitchside screen before eventually ruling it came off Llorente’s body and that the goal stood.
City needed a late response and they thought they had found it.
Sterling showed great footwork before netting. But VAR played killjoy for City as Aguero was ruled to have been offside in the build-up.