Spurs go through in Euro classic

TOTTENHAM Hotspur has reached the Champions League semi-finals on away goals, with a breathtaking and controversial 4-3 defeat to Manchester City.

There were four goals in the opening 11 minutes and non-stop action until City had a stoppage-time goal from Raheem Sterling, which would have sent City through, ruled out after a VAR review.

The replay confirmed Sergio Aguero was offside in the build-up but it dealt a cruel blow to Pep Guardiola’s side, which had been stronger over the 90 minutes. “That is why we love football, we feel the passion. We enjoy watching football, anything can happen,” said Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino. “Today we showed our great character, great personality, to score three goals against Manchester City is not easy.”

Spurs will now play Ajax Amsterdam for a place in the final against Liverpool or Barcelona.

The contest exploded into life in the fourth minute when Sterling received a ball from Kevin De Bruyne on the left flank and cut inside before beating Hugo Lloris with a beautiful, curling shot. Three minutes later, Spurs drew level when City’s Aymeric Laporte’s attempted clearance fell at the feet of Son Heung-min whose shot flew in off keeper Ederson.

Laporte was also at fault for Spurs’ second when he gifted the ball to Lucas Moura, the Brazilian feeding Christian Eriksen who found Son, the South Korean finishing superbly into the far corner. City responded immediately, as Aguero fed Bernardo Silva and the Portuguese winger’s shot deflected off Danny Rose and beat Lloris to make it 2-2.

Sterling struck again in the 21st minute to level the aggregate, ghosting in at the back post to convert a low cross from De Bruyne.

A thundering 59th-minute strike from Aguero put City in the driver’s seat again — the Argentine blasting in after a magnificent burst from De Bruyne. City were stunnedd though in the 73rd minute when sub Fernando Llorente bundled in a Kieran Trippier corner to restore the London club’s advantage through away goals.