Lucas Bergvall netted his inaugural goal for Tottenham, securing an unexpected 1-0 win against reigning champions Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Swedish player struck a brilliant shot past Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson in the 86th minute, providing a deserved reward for the injury-plagued home team, who had just witnessed a Dominic Solanke goal disallowed shortly before.
Liverpool Unbeaten Run Ends
Liverpool, after defeating Chelsea last season to claim the title for a record 10th time, did not perform at their best as their 24-game unbeaten streak across all competitions was broken.
They indeed had a valid reason to be upset, as Bergvall, having already received a yellow card, was lucky to avoid a second one for a foul on Kostas Tsimikas just before he scored the decisive goal.
Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Liverpool, stated, “It was a big moment, and he should have been off.”
Optimism for the Return Leg
Although Arne Slot’s team experienced just their second defeat of the season, they will remain optimistic about reversing the outcome in the second leg at Anfield next month.
Newcastle United won 2-0 against Arsenal in the first leg of the other semi-final on Tuesday, away from home.
Injury-Hit Tottenham Defies Odds
Tottenham had secured just three victories in their last 14 matches across all competitions, as injuries severely impacted Ange Postecoglou’s team. When midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off following a concerning fall early in the game, the signs appeared bleak for the home side, who introduced new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for his debut.
Liverpool defeated Tottenham 6-3 in the Premier League before Christmas, yet they appeared sluggish for much of the match on Wednesday, even though they controlled possession.
Bergvall Matches Gareth Bale’s Feat
Tottenham enjoyed a satisfying payback, with Bergvall demonstrating his high rating by becoming the youngest player to score for the team in the League Cup since Gareth Bale in 2007.
Postecoglou stated earlier in the season that he consistently secures a trophy in his second year at a club, but recent outcomes have intensified pressure on the Australian.
The supporters were chanting his name at the conclusion, as a first trophy since the 2008 League Cup became a bit more attainable, although there is still a lot of effort required.
Key Moments in the Game
Tottenham created more opportunities in the first half, with Radu Dragusin’s early shot being denied by Alisson, and Solanke missing the target with a Son Heung-min cross just before the extended pause for Bentancur’s injury.
Unusually quiet Mohamed Salah missed one attempt for Liverpool, and Kinsky was startled when Cody Gakpo’s shot nearly squirmed under his body.
Drama Unfolds After Halftime
Alisson nearly gave Tottenham the lead shortly after halftime, dallying on the ball and being dispossessed by Bergvall, who prodded the ball back to Pedro Porro, whose first shot was blocked by Virgil van Dijk, while his follow-up attempt was clipped wide of a gaping goal, much to the chagrin of Postecoglou, who fell to his knees in the technical area.
Liverpool almost took the lead when Trent Alexander-Arnold, who came on as a substitute, had his shot cleared off the line by Dragusin.
VAR Decision and Final Glory
Tottenham dug deep, but Solanke was denied by a VAR offside decision, which Stuart Attwell became the first referee to announce to the crowd.
I’d be more interested if he explained why he didn’t give Bergvall a second yellow card, Slot added.
The hosts, however, would not be denied, and Bergvall sent the home fans into raptures with a clinical finish following excellent work by Solanke.
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