Man City denied by two VAR calls as Tottenham edge through in amazing Champions League quarter-final
Pep Guardiola's men fell victim to two VAR calls in their dramatic defeat against Tottenham in the Champions League quarter-finals
MANCHESTER CITY’S quad dream was ended by two VAR controversies.
Tottenham sealed a spot in the semi-finals after a dramatic aggregate win on away goals after a seven-goal second leg thriller.
Fernando Llorente’s decisive 73rd-minute goal was awarded after going in off his arm and then his hip.
And in injury time Raheem Sterling’s tie-clincher was scrubbed out for offside against Sergio Aguero.
Spurs’ two-goal ace Son Heung-min admitted: “It was madness. Sometimes you are annoyed by VAR but today it is ‘thank you’.
“I have never seen anything like this. It was tough and crazy, an unbelievable night.”
Team-mate Christian Eriksen said: “I must be one of the luckiest guys on the planet. I thought it was over and thank God the ref gave offside.
“It was a roller-coaster. It was goals, goals, goals, goals.
“It was weird because you could expect anything.
“We’ll take a deep breath after today.”
Spurs now face a Champions League semi-final against Ajax.
The Dutch side’s former playmaker Eriksen added: “It’s a fairytale to play Ajax and the first five and last five minutes of this were fairytale.”
Spurs lead 1-0 from the first leg but a frantic opening 21 minutes at the Etihad saw five goals.
Sterling put City level on aggregate with a stunning, curling shot from just inside the area in the fourth minute. But two errors from Aymeric Laporte in three minutes allowed Son to score twice and give Spurs a 2-1 lead and 3-1 on aggregate.
Bernardo Silva’s deflected shot levelled the score at 2-2 on the night just 60 seconds later.
Sterling’s second and then Aguero’s second-half strike finally put City in command of the tie.
But then VAR took over as Spurs went through on away goals.
SunSport columnist and BBC pundit Alan Shearer said Llorente’s goal should have been ruled out.
He said: “I was surprised at that. It has definitely hit his arm first and then on to his hip so I didn’t think that goal would have stood.”
Spurs legend Glenn Hoddle said on BT Sport: “An unbelievable game and great character from Tottenham and City.
“Over the two legs Tottenham deserved it. You need a bit of fortune but VAR has won the day.”