Spurs into Champions League semis after City classic

Tottenham Hotspur reach semi-finals of Champions League on away goals after pulsating 4-3 defeat to Manchester City.

Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld celebrates his team’s qualification for the Champions League semi-finals, despite a 4-3 loss to Manchester City. Picture: Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League on away goals after a 4-3 (aggregate 4-4) defeat to Manchester City in a breathtaking quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs, who won the first leg 1-0, will play Ajax Amsterdam for a place in the final against Liverpool or Barcelona.

In a dramatic finale to an astonishing contest, City had a stoppage-time goal from Raheem Sterling, which would have sent them through, ruled out for off-side after VAR review confirmed that Sergio Aguero was off-side in the build up. City took a fourth minute lead through a beautiful curling shot from Sterling but Spurs struck back with two quick goals from Son Heung-min — the second of them a magnificent finish.

The manic opening period continued when Bernardo Silva brought the home side level in the 11th minute with a deflected shot and then Sterling struck again to make it 3-2 in the 21st minute.

A thundering strike from Aguero in the 59th minute put City in the driving seat again but they were stunned in the 73rd minute when Spurs substitute Fernando Llorente bundled in a Kieran Trippier corner to restore the London club’s advantage through away goals.

In the other quarterfinal second leg overnight, a resurgent Mohamed Salah scored one and set up another to inspire a clinical Liverpool to a 4-1 win at Porto to tee up a last-four clash with Barcelona.

REUTERS