By Samindra Kunti in London
October 27 – Tottenham got twice the drama at the end of the 90 minutes to draw 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon, leaving group D wide open until next’s week final round of matches. In injury time, Harry Kane had smashed home a winner from close range before VAR chalked off his 22nd Champions League goal.
Much of Spurs’ play in the first half had been disheartening and discouraging. In a reflection of their struggles this season, there was no pattern to their play and Lisbon dominated the midfield, passing the ball at speed compared to a ponderous Spurs.
But the hosts rallied after the break, sustaining intense pressure on Lisbon’s goal. However, Tottenham’s lack of efficiency cost them dear. Eric Dier, twice, and Matt Doherty should have scored before Kane did just that in a grandstand finish, leading to riotous celebrations from the partisan crowd, only to see his goal ruled out for offside.
Was it clear and obvious? Probably not as it took officials 10 minutes to come to a decision that left the Spurs faithful in North London deflated.
If the fans had jeered off their own at half-time, the boos were reserved for the officials at full-time. On the touchline, a fuming Antonio Conte was sent off.
“All the people came on to the pitch and the referee decided to send me off,” said Conte.
“Only for this. I think there are moments you can be intelligent to understand you have disallowed a regular goal because the goal is regular because the ball is in front of Kane and then … VAR.”
Conte spoke of “the big damage” the VAR has inflicted on Tottenham this season, in his view. He said: “You know I don’t comment on the ref’s decision but the VAR this season, we are not so lucky. Until now we are only the team that has repeated a penalty. And every penalty I go to see if the keeper moves on the line and then I see it a lot of the time.”
Tottenham top Group D with 8 points but with Lisbon and Eintracht Frankfurt both on 7 points a very slippery away trip to Olympique Marseille, on six points, awaits next week to settle who will advance to the round of sixteen of the competition. Harry Kane’s goal could have sealed Tottenham’s progress, but instead, the London club will need a result against the French club next Tuesday.
Elsewhere, FC Barcelona were condemned to Europa League action in the second half of the season following a 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich. Barcelona and Juventus, the Super League rebels, will not feature in the knockout stage of the Champions League, with AC Milan and Tottenham, initially backers of the breakaway last year, having their workout cut out next week.
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