Eighteen-year-old Lucas Bergvall delivered a crucial first goal for Tottenham, securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. However, the victory wasn’t without controversy.
Earlier this season, Liverpool defeated Spurs 6-3 in a Premier League clash, but this semi-final proved to be a far more tightly contested and error-prone encounter. Both sides, known for their offensive firepower, struggled to find clinical finishing in the final third. The deadlock was finally broken in the 86th minute when Bergvall capitalized on a well-fought opportunity. Dominic Solanke muscled past Ibrahima Konaté to create the chance, allowing Bergvall to strike decisively.
Liverpool, however, were left frustrated by the officiating. Just minutes before the goal, Bergvall had slid into Kostas Tsimikas, sparking appeals for a foul and a potential second yellow card. Referee Stuart Attwell allowed play to continue and chose not to discipline the Spurs youngster further. Adding to Liverpool’s frustrations, Tsimikas was off the pitch receiving treatment when Bergvall scored.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his discontent, stating:
“The referee made a mistake in my opinion, and I told him so. It was obvious, and everyone on the sidelines knew it warranted a yellow card. There’s VAR, a linesman, a fourth official, and yet this decision was missed. While I’m not saying this caused us to lose, it was a pivotal moment.”
Liverpool had an earlier goal disallowed after VAR ruled Solanke offside, a decision met with mixed reactions from the crowd. Spurs fans jeered the announcement, while Liverpool supporters initially celebrated before Bergvall’s late winner changed the mood.
For Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, this victory marked a significant moment in the team’s growth. The squad entered the match severely depleted, with new signing Antonin Kinsky making his debut as goalkeeper. Spurs suffered another setback in the first half when Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off with a serious injury. The midfielder later reassured fans with a positive social media update, stating, “All good.”
Despite these challenges, Kinsky impressed with crucial saves, including a late stop to deny Darwin Núñez in added time. Tottenham’s defense stood firm, with Pedro Porro coming close to scoring earlier and Radu Dragusin making a critical block against Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The second leg will take place at Anfield on Thursday, February 6, live on Sky. Tottenham carries a slim advantage but will need to overcome a likely resurgent Liverpool on their home turf.
0 comments:
Post a Comment