Tottenham Hotspur booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League despite losing 4-3 to Manchester City in the second leg of their quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium.
Tottenham entered the match with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg last week, but a quite stunning match saw City score four on the night.
Pep Guardiola's side thought that they had scored a decisive fifth in stoppage time when Raheem Sterling finished from inside the box, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, allowing Tottenham to advance to the semi-finals on away goals.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur from the Etihad. Spurs will bring a 1-0 advantage into the second leg having triumphed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week - it should be a super game! Stay tuned for live updates!
TEAMS!
CITY: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy; D Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne; B Silva, Aguero, Sterling
TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Wanyama; Alli, Eriksen, Lucas; Son
City's team shows four changes from the one that started the first leg, with Vincent Kompany, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Kevin de Bruyne coming in for Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and Fabian Delph. Sergio Aguero will once again lead the line.
As for Tottenham, there is a start in midfield for Victor Wanyama with Harry Winks ruled out. Harry Kane's absence means that Son Heung-min will lead the line with support from Lucas Moura, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, who suffered a broken hand in the first leg.
As for Tottenham, there is a start in midfield for Victor Wanyama with Harry Winks ruled out. Harry Kane's absence means that Son Heung-min will lead the line with support from Lucas Moura, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, who suffered a broken hand in the first leg.
KICKOFF: City kick things off on home soil...
KICKOFF: City kick things off on home soil...
... all City in terms of possession in the early stages of this match.
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-0 TOTTENHAM (STERLING)
City make the breakthrough in the fourth minute of this match as De Bruyne finds Sterling inside the box and the England international works some space before curling an excellent effort into the bottom corner. It is the perfect start for the Premier League champions.
It has been a decent response from Tottenham in terms of possession.
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-1 TOTTENHAM (SON)
Tottenham level the scores! Big moment in this tie as Son finds a route past Ederson, but the City goalkeeper might feel that he should have done better. Some start to this game.
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-2 TOTTENHAM (SON)
Oh my word! Stunner! Son picks up the ball inside the City box before finding the top corner with a wonderful effort. Three goals in the early stages of this last-eight clash.
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-2 TOTTENHAM (BERNARDO SILVA)
Just crazy. There are no words. Bernardo Silva makes it 2-2 as the Portugal international's effort takes a deflection off Rose before landing in the bottom corner of the net. Ridiculous.
Please can the game just settle down now because I am not sure that I can keep up. Son has two for Tottenham, while Sterling and Bernardo Silva have scored for the home team.
There has been time to catch your breath in the last couple of minutes. City are in control of the ball, with Tottenham just sitting in and attempting to defend their lines here.
City win a free kick in a decent position as Wanyama brings Walker to the ground...
... David Silva swings his free kick over the Tottenham crossbar.
CLOSE! Eriksen misses the City goal with a strike from distance.
GOAL! MAN CITY 3-2 TOTTENHAM (STERLING)
City have their third of the match as De Bruyne delivers a wonderful cross into the Tottenham box and Sterling is on hand to finish at the far post. Some football match, this.
Tottenham are actually still ahead on the away-goals rule, but I suspect that we have not seen the last of the scoring with this game just 24 minutes old. Incredible start to this clash.
Not too much to report in the way of chances in the last few minutes, but Tottenham are enjoying plenty of the ball at the moment as they pass and probe through midfield.
Still Tottenham enjoy possession and these little spells will help them.
Just a reminder that the winner of this clash will face Ajax in the semi-finals, with the Dutch giants dumping Juventus out of the competition on Tuesday night. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and City are currently on the front foot on home soil.
Trippier does well to clear a low cross from Bernardo as City threaten in a wide position once again. There are surely, surely going to be a few more goals in this football match.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and Tottenham are still committing plenty of players in the final third of the field. Son, in particular, has been outstanding tonight.
Sissoko needs some treatment after going down in the middle of the park.
Sissoko seems okay to continue, but he does not seem entirely happy. Losing the Frenchman at this stage would be a huge blow to Tottenham, who are without Harry Winks tonight.
Sissoko is down again and surely a change will have to be made.
No... Sissoko wants to continue. Make your mind up, Moussa.
Sissoko is down once again!
TOTTENHAM SUB! Tottenham make their first change as Sissoko, who looks to have tweaked something in his knee, is replaced by Fernando Llorente. Son to drop back into midfield?
YELLOW CARD! Sissoko (Tottenham) has been booked for leaving the field on the wrong side!
I suspect that there will be a decent amount of added time at the end of the first period. Son has just had another half-chance for Spurs, but his effort was wide of the post.
Pass, pass, pass from City as they attempt to work some space late in the first period.
SAVE! De Bruyne's effort from distance brings a decent save from Lloris.
We are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the first period.
City have a free kick out wide as Trippier fells Sterling...
... Alli deals with the set piece from De Bruyne.
HALF TIME: MAN CITY 3-2 TOTTENHAM (TOTTENHAM LEAD ON AWAY GOALS)
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with City leading 3-2 on the night but trailing on away goals to Tottenham. It has been a quite stunning opening 45 minutes of football, with Sterling netting twice for City and Son twice for Tottenham. The other goal was scored by Bernardo Silva, who saw his deflected effort nestle in the bottom corner!
STATISTICS! City dominated the first-half possession with 62%, managing eight attempts, four of which were on target. Tottenham, meanwhile, hit the target with two of their four attempts. Just the one booking to report and it came in bizarre circumstances, with Sissoko picking up a yellow card for leaving the field on the wrong side - in the eyes of the referee - when he was subbed.
BENCH WATCH! As mentioned, Tottenham have already been forced into a change with Llorente replacing Sissoko. The likes of Skipp and Sanchez are still in reserve for Pochettino, but there is not too much in the way of attacking options left for the visitors. As for City, an incredibly talented bench includes Gabriel Jesus, Mahrez, Sane and Fernandinho.
KICKOFF: Tottenham resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
YELLOW CARD! Son (Tottenham) is booked for bringing De Bruyne down in a dangerous area.
CLOSE! De Bruyne's free kick is not too far away!
SAVE! Wonderful save from Lloris to keep out a close-range Sterling strike!
It is difficult to imagine that City will not score a fourth, meaning that Tottenham will need to register again if they are to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals of the competition.
You do wonder how long Guardiola will leave it before looking to his bench. Sane and Jesus are amongst those available and those two certainly have goals in them. Still 3-2 to the home side.
SAVE! Another super save from Lloris to keep out a powerful De Bruyne strike!
Tottenham cannot find a route out of their own half at the moment as City continue to dominate the ball in the final third. Still a lot of football to be played in this game.
CLOSE! David Silva's header - you heard that right - glances over the Tottenham crossbar.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining and Tottenham are heading into the semi-finals as things stand, but City will certainly fancy their chances of scoring another.
SAVE! Wonderful defending from Kompany to prevent Son from driving into the City box. Spurs do have a chance moments later through Llorente, but Ederson keeps out his header!
GOAL! MAN CITY 4-2 TOTTENHAM (AGUERO)
City have four! Aguero breaks into a dangerous position before firing his effort past Lloris!
MAN CITY SUB! Fernandinho replaces D Silva for the home side.
Have Tottenham got anything left? City are absolutely dominating the ball as they search for a fifth, which would give them some breathing space in this quarter-final tie.
Something has to change for Tottenham as they are just not in it at the moment.
Llorente has not really been in the match since coming on, aside from that header just before City scored their fourth. Pochettino does not have many options on his bench, though.
Vertonghen has to chop Aguero to the ground following a super turn from the Argentine.
SAVE! Son breaks into a dangerous position for Tottenham, but Ederson is on hand to make a really smart save. Much better from the visitors there, and they will need more of it.
GOAL! MAN CITY 4-3 TOTTENHAM (LLORENTE)
Oh my goodness me! Tottenham have a third as Llorente bundles it home from close range!
Looked to come off Llorente's hip! VAR are having a look at this!
The referee is going to have a look!
Goal given! Huge, huge moment in this game!
SHOT! Aguero misses the Tottenham goal from inside the box!
SHOT! Eriksen has a goal-bound strike blocked by Kompany!
YELLOW CARD! Wanyama (Tottenham) is booked for a foul on De Bruyne.
At the moment, Tottenham are heading into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
SAVE! Good save from Lloris to keep out a header from Aguero!
TOTTENHAM SUB! Davies replaces Lucas for the away side.
Time is very much of the essence for City as the click ticks on and on. The home side need to score otherwise they are heading out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals.
MAN CITY SUB! Sane replaces Mendy for the home side.
CHANCE! Gundogan fires over the Tottenham crossbar from inside the box!
Attack versus defence at the moment as City continue to boss the ball. Tottenham are preparing to make their third and final change of the match - Davinson Sanchez.
Lloris gathers a cross from the right and Sanchez is still waiting to enter the field.
TOTTENHAM SUB! Sanchez replaces Rose for the away side.
We are into the second of five additional minutes at the Etihad!
GOAL! MAN CITY 5-3 TOTTENHAM (STERLING)
Oh my goodness me! Utterly incredible! City surely book their spot in the semi-finals as Aguero finds Sterling inside the box and the England international finds the bottom corner!
Eriksen lost the ball in a dangerous position and Tottenham have been made to pay. VAR are checking for a possible offside, though. Incredible drama...
OH MY WORD! NO GOAL!
Aguero was offside when he received the ball. No goal! Incredible scenes.
De Bruyne sees his low cross blocked and Tottenham are holding on again.
Sane comes across to block Son's effort but that could be that.
FULL TIME: MAN CITY 4-3 TOTTENHAM (TOTTENHAM WIN ON AWAY GOALS)
Speechless. Just incredible. This game had everything, but it is Tottenham that advance to the semi-finals on away goals. City win 4-3 on the night, but lose when all is said and done. Just a stunning night of Champions League football. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. See you again very soon!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
