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Tottenham Hotspur edged Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, courtesy of a late winner from 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall. The young Swedish international scored his first Spurs goal in the 86th minute, finishing clinically from Dominic Solanke’s setup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The match which was marked by tension and controversy had Solanke initially having a goal ruled out for offside by VAR. The decision was announced over the public address system by referee Stuart Attwell, prompting jeers from the Spurs fans and celebratory cheers from the Liverpool support.
Bergvall’s winner also came under scrutiny, as Liverpool appealed for a foul and potential second yellow card when he slid in on Kostas Tsimikas minutes earlier. However, referee Attwell waved play on, and Tsimikas was off the pitch receiving treatment when Bergvall scored.
New signing Antonin Kinsky impressed on his debut in goal for Spurs, making a stunning late save to deny Darwin Nunez and ensure his team held on to their narrow lead. Kinsky was thrown into the starting lineup due to injuries, and he rose to the challenge with a solid performance.
The result sets the stage for an intense return leg at Anfield on February 6. Liverpool, who had previously beaten Spurs 6-3 in the Premier League, will need to overcome their sluggish start to the New Year after a previous 2-2 draw with Manchester United and mount a comeback to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Spurs, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their young players’ performances, particularly Bergvall and Kinsky. Despite being depleted by injuries, including a worrying first-half injury to Rodrigo Bentancur, Spurs showed resilience and determination to secure a crucial advantage in the tie.
The match was a tightly contested affair, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Pedro Porro saw a shot blocked and then chipped wide when Bergvall caught Alisson in possession, while Radu Dragusin was needed to block Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fierce shot on the line.
Liverpool and Tottenham both struggled in front of goal, with the top-flight’s two leading scorers lacking their usual sharpness in the final third. However, for Liverpool, they will be eager to bounce back in the return leg and keep their hopes of reaching the Carabao Cup final alive.
