Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur’s late header salvaged a 1-1 draw against Sporting to keep the London side in control of Champions League Group D but it could have been even better as Harry Kane’s late effort was disallowed on Wednesday.
Victory for Spurs would have booked their place in the last 16 with a game to spare and they thought they had sealed it with almost the last kick of the game when Kane fired in from close range after Emerson Royal’s header across goal.
It sparked wild celebrations but joy turned to frustration as a VAR check that lasted several minutes ruled the goal out for offside -- prompting a furious reaction from Spurs manager Antonio Conte who was shown a red card in chaotic scenes.
“I thought because it went backwards and hit a defender it was a different phase of play,” Tottenham‘s Matt Doherty said of the decision that left many scratching their heads.
“I’ll have to look at the rule book. A few of us don’t have a clue what happened.”
The result left Tottenham top of a desperately tight group on eight points, with Sporting and Eintracht Frankfurt, who beat Olympique de Marseille, on seven. Marseille have six points.
Spurs will qualify for the last 16 if they avoid defeat in Marseille on Tuesday when Sporting host Frankfurt also needing a point to guarantee a place in the knockout stage.
Sporting were by far the better team in the first half and took the lead in the 22nd minute through former Spurs player Marcus Edwards.
Tottenham were vastly improved after the break and peppered the Sporting goal in their search for an equaliser with keeper Antonio Adan making several saves to preserve his side’s lead.
Sporting substitute Flavio Nazinho spurned two great opportunities to make the points safe -- the second an open goal - and in the 80th minute those misses looked even more costly as Tottenham levelled.
Ivan Perisic swung in a corner and midfielder Bentancur rose highest to head powerfully past Adan.
There was still more drama to come with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris forced into a great to deny substitute Fatawu Issahaku before Kane’s disallowed effort meant that Sporting finished the game well in the hunt for a last 16 spot.
