Lucas Bergvall controversially gave Tottenham a 1-0 lead in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
The two teams played a close game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday and it looked like it would end goalless after Dominic Solanke had a goal ruled out for offside midway through the second half.
However, in the 86th minute, Bergvall finished superbly after good work from the tireless Solanke to score his first goal for Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou's side were victorious ahead of next month's second leg at Anfield, but Bergvall's decisive contribution was controversial.
Liverpool were left furious by the goal, and the Swedish midfielder may be lucky to still be on the pitch.
After being booked in the first half for a sliding challenge on Luis Diaz, although replays suggested the Colombian went down with minimal contact, he took out Kostas Tsimikas with a sliding challenge.
Liverpool were left furious after Lucas Bergvall escaped a second yellow card for Tottenham.
The Swede was cautioned in the first half for a challenge on Luis Díaz by referee Stuart Attwell.
Moments after his foul on Tsimikas, which was not penalized, Bergvall scored the winning goal for Spurs.
However, Stuart Attwell failed to show Bergvall a second yellow card, and the 18-year-old scored moments later.
To add insult to injury, Tsimikas was off the field waiting to return with the Reds temporarily reduced to 10 men when the Swede scored.
The Liverpool bench was furious: a member of the coaching staff received a yellow card from Attwell for his protests, while Arne Slot was seen protesting with the fourth official.
Speaking after the match, Slot was clear in his claims that the referees had made a big mistake.
“On Sunday a decision was made against the Spurs, today it was in their favor,” he said.
'Unfortunate for us. Yeah, there's no debate about that (should have been a second yellow card for Bergvall).
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk also took out his anger on the referees and claimed they needed to do better.
“I think it was pretty obvious that there was going to be a second yellow card (for Lucas Bergvall),” he said.
“I think it was pretty clear. It was a coincidence and a minute later he scored the winning goal.
'It is what it is. He (the referee) made a mistake in my opinion and I told him so. He thinks not, but I think it was pretty obvious and everyone on the sidelines knew it was supposed to be a yellow card.
“There's a linesman there, a fourth official, there's VAR, a referee and he doesn't get a second yellow card. I'm not saying this is the reason we lost tonight, but it was a great moment in the game.”
Speaking in the Sky Sports studio, Michael Dawson and Jamie Redknapp agreed with Slot and insisted Spurs had got their way.
“Stuart Atwell puts himself in a position where I don't think the first yellow card is like Luis Diaz,” said former Tottenham defender Dawson.
“The only thing I would say about Bergvall is that he gives Stuart Attwell a chance and a decision to make. Stuart Attwell made a mistake on the first one, I don't think it was a yellow card.
'In the second, I have no defense for Bergvall, he lunges and catches Tsimikas. If they get one thing right and another thing wrong, you won't be able to match them.
“Liverpool are punished for that, as a few moments later the ball is in the back of the net.
“I can understand Liverpool's frustration. Once the first yellow card is shown, you will definitely want a second yellow card.”
Redknapp added: “You would be furious (if you were Liverpool). It has a monumental effect on the rest of the game.
'Tsimikas has to receive treatment leaving Liverpool with 10 men. He comes out for 30 seconds, so Bergvall is not only on the pitch but they have to play with 10 men and you can see that changes the shape of the team.
“A brilliant game from their (Spurs') perspective, but if you're a Liverpool manager, player and fan, you'll wonder why he's on the pitch and our left-back isn't.”
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