Manchester City’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies ended in dramatic fashion as Tottenham progressed to the Champions League semi-finals on away goals, as a pulsating 4-3 win for City on Wednesday was not enough to overturn their 1-0 first leg deficit.
Four goals were scored in a crazy opening 11 minutes, as Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva cancelled out two Son Heung-min away goals for Tottenham.
City finally looked set for the last four when further goals from Sterling and Sergio Aguero put them ahead in the tie for the first time.
But there was a further twist when Fernando Llorente’s controversial goal 17 minutes from time was allowed to stand, despite a VAR check for handball by the Spaniard.
VAR intervened again deep into stoppage time to save Spurs once more, when Sterling thought he had completed his hat trick – only for Aguero to be ruled offside in the build-up.
Tottenham’s reward is a semi-final clash against Ajax.
Pep Guardiola will face more questions over his failure to land the Champions League three seasons into his City’s reign, but after a more conservative approach for the first leg was criticised, he set the tone for a thrilling 90 minutes.
Kevin de Bruyne was restored to the starting XI among four changes from the first leg, and the Belgian showed why the decision to leave him out last week was so questioned.
De Bruyne drove at the heart of the Spurs defence before feeding Sterling, who cut inside and curled a wonderful shot into the far corner.
Guardiola had called for the home fans to finally produce an intimidating atmosphere on a European night at the Etihad.
However, they had barely retaken their seats by the time Tottenham were level.
Aymeric Laporte cut out Dele Alli’s forward pass, but only turned the ball into the path of Son, whose shot had too much power for Ederson.
Three minutes later, City’s quadruple quest appeared in tatters as Laporte was again caught in possession, this time by Lucas Moura, and the Brazilian teed up Son to curl into the top corner for his 20th goal of the season.
Yet, a kamikaze opening 11 minutes had another twist as Bernardo’s effort deflected off Danny Rose and wrong-footed Hugo Lloris at his near post.
By the midway point of the first half, City were back in front as Bernardo and De Bruyne played creators once more and Sterling finished off a low cross at the back post.
Spurs’ hopes of holding on to their advantage on away goal suffered another blow when Moussa Sissoko was forced off with an injury.
Mauricio Pochettino chose attack as the best form of defence by replacing the midfielder with Llorente in what proved to be a decisive change.
🙌 WHAT A NIGHT! 🙌
We're @ChampionsLeague semi-finalists! #UCL⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/V90M3MY9KP
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 17, 2019
City started the second period with the same menace they did the first, as Lloris denied Sterling, before the French World Cup winner made a brilliant stop to deny De Bruyne the goal his performance deserved.
However, De Bruyne had his hat trick of assists on the hour mark as he surged through midfield, before timing his pass for Aguero to perfection, and the Argentine rifled past Lloris.
Finally ahead for the first time in the tie, Guardiola soon sent on Fernandinho to restore some sense of control, but City were pegged back again as an incredible tie swung back in Tottenham’s favour.
Omggg! I love you boys!!!! #COYS #UCL pic.twitter.com/S2Y9e5yY9N
— Harry Kane (@HKane) April 17, 2019
Kieran Trippier’s corner was bundled in by Llorente, but there was controversy as the ball seemed to hit the striker’s arm on its way in.
After a VAR check, though, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir stood by his original decision, and the goal stood.
And VAR went against City again deep into stoppage time as delirium soon turned to disbelief inside the Etihad when what would have been a hat trick for Sterling was ruled out.
💫 THE FINAL FOUR 💫
🇳🇱 Ajax
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🏴 Liverpool
🏴 Tottenham #UCL pic.twitter.com/ebZv7oPsNr
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 17, 2019