Tottenham Hotspur claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, but the win was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Lucas Bergvall’s decisive goal late in the game.
Bergvall, who was already on a yellow card, escaped a potential second booking after a late challenge on Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas went unnoticed by referee Stuart Attwell. Moments later, with Tsimikas still off the pitch receiving treatment, the 18-year-old netted the only goal of the match in the 86th minute.
The incident drew a furious reaction from Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who was subsequently booked for his protests. Despite the contentious nature of the goal, Spurs’ overall performance merited the win, with Pedro Porro missing a golden opportunity earlier and Dominic Solanke having a goal ruled out for offside.
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Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, struggled to make their mark on the game. Their best chance came when substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s effort was heroically cleared off the line by Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin. However, the defeat marked only the second loss for Liverpool under Slot’s management.
Tottenham’s victory came amidst significant adversity, as they were already missing 10 players due to injuries and illness. Their resilience was further tested when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a serious injury early in the game. Bentancur collapsed in the penalty area and required 10 minutes of treatment before being stretchered off with a neck brace. The club later confirmed that he was conscious, talking, and undergoing further medical evaluations in the hospital.
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The result sets up a dramatic second leg at Anfield, where Liverpool will aim to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes of silverware alive. For Spurs, the win provides a crucial advantage, but the controversial nature of the game will likely remain a talking point leading up to the return fixture.