Tottenham overcame Manchester City in a classic seven-goal encounter at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to reach the Champions League semi-final for the first time in their history.
Fernando Llorente’s goal from a corner, confirmed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) 17 minutes from time, gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side victory on away goals, in a game full of tension and attacking quality.
City had thought they were in the last four in injury time, only for Raheem Sterling’s goal to be ruled out for offside by VAR.
Sergio Aguero had come back into play from an offside position when he laid the ball for Sterling in Spurs’ 18-yard area.
The visitors were protecting a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but an opening 21 minutes of brilliance saw City lead 3-2, as both teams exchanged goals.
Sterling started the goal galore, when he curled in a finish from the edge of the area after only four minutes.
Son Heung-min responded with a double, capitalising on errors by defender, Aymeric Laporte.
Bernardo Silva put Spurs level with a shot that deflected past Hugo Lloris, before Sterling got to the end of the outstanding Kevin de Bruyne’s cross to score his second at the far post.
The hosts started the second half on a perfect note, when Aguero scored a thunderbolt of a shot for their fourth after De Bruyne had opened Spurs’ defence.
Then Fernando LIorente, who came in as a first-half substitute for injured Moussa Sissoko, bundled home from a corner through his hip.
The goal was given after a VAR check for handball.
In one last extraordinary twist, City thought they had snatched victory with a Sterling hat-trick, but their wild celebration was cut short as VAR once again had the final say.
The goal was canceled after VAR showed that Aguero had been offside before providing the assist.
The defeat ended the Cityzens’ hope of winning a quadruple this season. They are now left with the FA Cup final against Watford and a fight for the Premier League with Liverpool.
In the other match of the evening, Liverpool thrashed Portuguese champions, FC Porto, 6-1 to book their second successive last four spot.
Having won the first leg 2-0 at Anfield last week, Jurgen Klopp’s men overwhelmed their opponent at the Estadio Dragao, scoring four goals.
Sadio Mane opened scoring in the 26th minute, before Mohammed Salah doubled the lead in the 65th minute.
Real Madrid-bound Militao pulled one back for the 2004 winners, but two late goals from Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk ensured the hosts had no way back into the tie.
Tottenham will face giant killers, Ajax Amsterdam, in the semis, while the Reds, who finished as finalist last season, will face Barcelona, who disgraced Manchester United out of the competition 4-0 on aggregate.
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