Man City 4-3 Tottenham (Agg: 4-4) Fernando Llorente settles Champions League classic

Tottenham reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in their history with an exhilarating 4-4 away-goals win over Manchester City on a remarkable night at the Etihad.
Raheem Sterling was denied a dramatic winner in stoppage time when Sergio Aguero was ruled offside in the build-up after a VAR check, as Fernando Llorente’s unorthodox finish – which also survived a VAR check for handball – with 17 minutes remaining ensured Mauricio Pochettino’s side face Ajax for a place in the final

---

Aguero then blasted home at the near post (59) to put City ahead in the tie, but Llorente’s effort from Kieran Trippier’s corner was awarded as Spurs ended City’s hopes of a quadruple in the most extraordinary fashion.

Spurs, who last reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1962 where they were defeated by Benfica, saw their first-leg advantage wiped out inside four minutes.

Player ratings

Man City: Ederson (5), Walker (6), Kompany (6), Laporte (5), Mendy (5), De Bruyne (9), Gundogan (6), Bernardo Silva (8), Silva (6), Sterling (9), Aguero (7).

Subs: Sane (n/a), Fernandinho (6)

Tottenham: Lloris (5), Trippier (5), Alderweireld (6), Vertonghen (6), Rose (6), Sissoko (6), Wanyama (7), Alli (6), Eriksen (7), Lucas Moura (6), Son (9).

Subs: Sanchez (n/a), Davies (n/a), Llorente (7).

Man of the match: Kevin De Bruyne.

City had won 12 matches on the trot at the Etihad, and they made the perfect start as Sterling collected Kevin De Bruyne’s pass before cutting inside Trippier and finding Hugo Lloris’ bottom corner.

But Son showed his freshness to turn the tie back in Tottenham’s favour with two goals in the blink of an eye. The South Korean benefited from a slack clearance by Aymeric Laporte in cutting out Dele Alli’s through-ball to steer his first-time shot under the legs of Ederson.

City had barely had the chance to compose themselves when Laporte compounded his error as Lucas Moura pounced on his heavy touch to spark a swift counter-attack and Son punished Kyle Walker for allowing him too much space to curl in his second.

Team news

City made just one change from the weekend with Leroy Sane dropping out for Bernardo Silva. From the first leg, there were three changes with no place for Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph and Riyad Mahrez. 

Pochettino switched five from the weekend with Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son all returning. Only Harry Kane and Harry Winks – both injured – were missing from the team that won 1-0 in the first leg.

Immediately from kick-off, Aguero found Bernardo Silva on the right, and with Danny Rose isolated, the midfielder managed to squeeze his shot past Lloris at his near post via a deflection off the England left-back.

This was already the four fastest goals at the start of any Champions League game – and City weren’t finished in a frenzied first half as four goals in 11 minutes became five in 21 – meaning the hosts only needed one more goal to hold the upper hand.

Their third was a thing of beauty, as Bernardo turned provider, driving at pace from midfield before finding De Bruyne on the right, and with Trippier switching off at the far post, Sterling was found exquisitely by the Belgian to finish from a tight angle.

Opta stat

Five goals were scored in the opening 21 minutes of this game – it’s the shortest amount of time it has ever taken for five goals to be scored in a Champions League match.

Son came close to completing his hat-trick before the interval when his left-footed shot whistled past Ederson’s post from the angle, and the forward was booked moments after the restart for a foul on De Bruyne which rules him out of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

Lloris kept out Sterling from point-blank range after David Silva’s cut-back before Rose prevented Bernardo Silva from sliding in the rebound. Lloris produced an even better save to keep out De Bruyne’s drive as City continued to lay siege on the Tottenham goal.

After Llorente’s header was kept out by Ederson, De Bruyne took control once more, taking Ilkay Gundogan’s pass before gliding through the Spurs midfield and setting up Aguero for a thumping finish at Lloris’ near post.

Llorente would have the final say, however, as Trippier’s corner was met at the front post by the Spaniard’s hip, and despite referee Cuneyt Cakir checking VAR for a suspected handball, the goal stood.

There was still time for more gripping, late drama as Sterling thought he had completed his hat-trick from Aguero’s cross – but replays showed the Argentine had strayed offside before collecting Bernardo Silva’s deflected pass as the Spurs players raised themselves from their haunches to celebrate the most breath-taking of victories in defeat.

How VAR intervened

Llorente goal: Replays showed the ball may have brushed Llorente’s elbow before hitting his hip. Referee Cuneyt Cakir went to his pitch-side monitor to review the situation, but the angle he saw triggered no reason for him to change his original decision. Another angle suggested it may have in fact hit his elbow.

Sterling’s disallowed goal: City had thought they’d netted a late winner but after jubilant celebrations in the home end the replays picked up that Sergio Aguero was offside just before teeing Sterling up. City’s joy turned to despair and vice versa for Spurs.

Man of the match – Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne kept his head when all around him were losing theirs on a night that will go down as one of the craziest games in Champions League history.

It has been some time since we have seen the Belgian in such rude health, with injury denying us these masterclasses on a regular basis this season as his team-mates chased records by themselves.

But he was needed here, the architect of three of City’s goals, and while Guardiola will suffer after seeing the Champions League slip away from his grasp again, he will take solace from his playmaker returning to his spectacular best.

Opta stats

• Spurs are the seventh English side to reach the Champions League semi-finals (also Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leeds) – England are now the nation with the most unique semi-finalists (overtaking Spain).
• No side has been knocked out at the Champions League quarter-final stage by English teams on more occasions than Manchester City (twice; also in 2017-18 vs Liverpool).
• Despite being eliminated tonight, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has won 10 Champions League games against English sides, the most of any manager in the competition’s history.
• Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 26 goals (19 goals and seven assists) in 20 games in all competitions at the Etihad this season, more than any team-mate.
• Heung-Min Son is now the highest scoring Asian player in Champions League history with 12 goals, overtaking Maxim Shatskikh of Uzbekistan.
• Son is the second player to score twice in the opening 10 minutes of a Champions League game away from home, after Heimo Pfeifenberger for Red Bull Salzburg vs AEK Athens in November 1994 (9 minutes).

Jarrell Miller denied licence to fight Anthony Joshua after adverse finding in drug test

Jarrell Miller will be able to reapply if B sample does not show an adverse finding

Jarrell Miller has been denied a licence to fight Anthony Joshua by the New York State Athletic Commission following an adverse finding from a drugs test in March.

The decision to deny his licence does not guarantee that the fight against AJ is off – and Miller will be able to reapply if his B sample does not show an adverse finding.

However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said that they are likely to need a new opponent.

Miller is due to fight IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hearn said on Twitter of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test: “We have been informed by VADA that there has been an adverse finding in Jarrell Miller’s sample collected on March 20, 2019.

“We are working with all relevant parties and will update with more details soon.

“AJ’s preparation continues for June 1 at MSG.”

Chelsea to join March of the Living with New England Revolution

Avram Grant will be part of Chelsea’s delegation at next month’s March of the Living

Avram Grant will be part of Chelsea’s delegation at next month’s March of the Living

Chelsea will take part in the March of the Living in Poland in May before travelling to Boston to play the New England Revolution in a charity match.

The Stamford Bridge club became the first from the Premier League to send a delegation to the annual event, which is held in remembrance of the Holocaust, 12 months ago and they will now be joined by a contingent from the MLS side on May 2.

Their participation will be the latest activity in a continuing series of commitments both organisations have made as part of a joint effort between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the Kraft family, who own the Revolution, to harness the power of sport to combat anti-Semitism and discrimination around the world.

Chelsea will be represented by former manager Avram Grant, director Eugene Tenenbaum, chief executive officer Guy Laurence and club ambassador Sir Steve Redgrave.

The clubs will then meet on the football field in Boston on May 15 for a match which will be played under the banner of “The Final Whistle on Hate”.

All proceeds will go towards raising funds for projects promoting equality and tolerance, with beneficiaries including the World Jewish Congress, the Tree of Life synagogue, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Tenenbaum said: “Chelsea is honoured to participate in the March of the Living for the second year in a row.

“We started this initiative to raise awareness of and tackle anti-Semitism in all its forms more than a year ago and sharing this experience of paying our respects to the millions of Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust with members of the New England Revolution goes a long way in spreading the message of unity and tolerance.”

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey defends FFP rules

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey insists Financial Fair Play punishments are working despite clubs continuing to break the rules.

QPR, Bournemouth and Leicester have all been fined for breaching regulations while Birmingham are currently under a transfer embargo after failing to meet FFP rules.

Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Bolton and Blackburn have suffered a similar punishment to Blues since FFP was introduced seven years ago.

Aston Villa also still need to find £40m to comply despite a takeover this month.

EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey

“I certainly think QPR have taken it seriously enough and I think Leicester and Bournemouth – whatever your view is on the settlements reached – it is money they would much rather have done something else with than pay it to the EFL,”
said Harvey, ahead of the start of the new season this weekend.

“There is a seriousness. The big challenge we have got in the next six months is to communicate really clearly what can and cannot take place by clubs that breach these rules.

“The EFL has not lost a club to administration in over five years now. Coventry were the last one.

“There is no doubt in the Championship in particular a lot of the clubs survive purely on the basis of owner funding. The vast majority are all making a loss.

“The level of the loss changes. What we have to be really careful about is making sure the owners of the clubs keep funding it.”

Championship clubs are allowed to lose an average of £13m a season. QPR reached a settlement worth almost £42m with the EFL and accepted a transfer ban for January last week having overspent in 2013-14.

Bournemouth previously agreed to pay £4.75m for breaching FFP regulations when they were promoted in 2015 while Leicester paid £3.1m in February after they made a £21m loss in 2013-14.

Birmingham have been under a transfer embargo since July 1 after breaching FFP rules and face a race against time to resolve the issue before next Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Harvey said: “The club are fully aware of the situation. We are working with them trying to resolve how they are able to sign players going forward for the new season.

“The important word is ‘register’ players which is a more appropriate phrase. Long before August 9 and deadline day I imagine the position will be resolved and the relevant club will know what it can and can’t do.

“The EFL is not about restricting clubs’ activity. We want clubs to be strong and we want them to be vibrant and want clubs to be strong. Clubs not being able to sign players they would like to sign is not good for the EFL.”

Usain Bolt in the running to join Australian football team

The Olympic sprinting champion follows his dream of playing professional football with the A-League’s Central Coast Mariners.

Usain Bolt is in talks for a six-week trial to play football in Australia, his agent has said.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist will start with the Central Coast Mariners from next month in a deal which could see him play for a season in Australia’s A-League.

His football agent, Tony Rallis, said a “deal between the Mariners and Usain Bolt in principle has been agreed”.

He added that the 31-year-old would be required to trial and that Football Federation Australia (FFA) should support his salary.

Usain Bolt on the pitch in France last month

Bolt, who is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time, has long had an ambition to play professional football.

Since retiring from the track in 2017, the Jamaican athlete has trialled with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Norway’s Stromsgodset teams.

Bolt is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time

Mr Rallis said: “If he’s competitive, he will lift our A-League profile.

“He will create dreams for young people and he will give the A-League a profile no amount of money can buy.

“This bloke’s an ambitious athlete. The A-League needed a hero and we got superman.”

Usain Bolt trains with the Australian football team

Mr Rallis said the owner of the Mariners would guarantee 70% of Bolt’s salary – with the FFA expected to fund the remainder.

“Once the FFA comes back and says that they’ll be part of the process, we’re going to the trial,” he said.

Usain Bolt and Norway’s Fredrik Horn Myhre (L) vie for the ball during a friendly game

Bolt – who earned the nickname of “Lightning Bolt” in the media – played for Stromsgodset as a forward in a friendly match against the Norway national under-19 football team in June.

He expressed a desire to play for Manchester United if given a chance, saying it “would be like a dream come true” in an interview with The Guardian.

Cricket was the first sport to interest Bolt, and he has previously said that he would probably have been a fast bowler if he had not pursued sprinting.

Germany out: Other World Cup holders who crashed out

Germany’s failure to defend their title isn’t the first time the reigning champions have left the World Cup early on.

Spain’s title defence in 2014 fell apart from the first game

The World Cup holders lost to South Korea 2-0, and ended up at the bottom of their group, also featuring Sweden and Mexico.

Here is a look of other holders who failed to get past the group stage.

Les Bleus? C’est magnifique!

Inspired by midfield maestro Zinedine Zidane, France won the 1998 World Cup on home turf. Zidane scored twice as Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 in the final, clinching their first World Cup trophy.

Sacre Bleu!

Four years later, France’s title defence got off to the worst possible start as they were stunned 1-0 by Senegal in their opening group game. Things went from bad to worse for the holders in South Korea, as they drew their next game against Uruguay and then lost 2-0 to Denmark to return home in shame.

Azzurri triumph in Germany

In 2006, an impressive Italy beat Australia, Ukraine and Germany on their way to the World Cup final. In a thrilling finale they met a resurgent France, still led by Zidane. The hero of 1998 became the villain of the 2006 final as he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in extra time. Italy went on to win 5-3 on penalties.

From top of the world to bottom of Group F

The Azzurri were drawn what looked like an easy group four years later; New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia. Despite being overwhelming favourites to progress with ease, the holders ended up bottom of the group as they drew their two opening games then lost a gripping decider 3-2 to Slovakia

Tiki-taka sweeps the globe

Spain stunned the globe as they built on their Euro 2008 win with their first ever World Cup title in 2010. Playing a short passing game known as tiki-taka, the Spaniards beat Portugal, Paraguay and Germany on their way to final. In a bruising encounter they overcame the Netherlands, courtesy of an extra time goal from Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta.

Spain handed sweet revenge

It was a completely different experience for Spain four years later, as their defence fell apart and shipped seven goals in their opening two games. Inspired by Robin van Persie, the Netherlands gained revenge for their 2010 final defeat by beating Spain 5-1 in their first game of Brazil 2014. Spain then fell to a surprise 2-0 loss against Chile – a result which eliminated them from the tournament

Dominant Die Mannschaft win fourth title

In 2014, it seemed like there was only ever going to be one winner. Germany were impressive as they overcame Algeria and France on their way to the semi final, where they met Brazil. In one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, Die Mannschaft beat the hosts 7-1 in ruthless fashion. They went on to beat Argentina in the final with an extra time winner from substitute Mario Gotze.

Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland

  Germany were among the favourites heading into Russia 2018, but they never lived up to their billing. The holders were outdone in their opening game against Mexico, losing by a solitary goal. They appeared to be heading out as they trailed Sweden in their next group game, but got their campaign back on track by drawing level then scoring a last minute winner through Toni Kroos. With that win they held their fate in their own hands, but lost 2-0 to South Korea in their final game.

British divers join mission to save football team from Thai cave

The three cave diving experts join 1,000 Thai soldiers and navy SEAL divers at the mud-slicked site in the province of Chiang Rai.

A team of British divers has joined rescue efforts at a flooded cave in northern Thailand where 12 children and their football coach have been trapped for five days.

The three cave diving experts flew to Chiang Rai province with special kit, including cave radios provided by the Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation (DCRO), and arrived at the site late on Wednesday.

Richard William Stanton, Robert Charles Harper and John Volanthen entered the cave in full kit before emerging about an hour later.

“We’ve got a job to do,” Mr Volanthen said as he went into the tunnel, declining to speak further.

Heavy rain has hampered the search and some of the rescue divers have been forced to turn back after floodwater seeped into a second chamber of the caves.

The three British divers are briefed at the site

The children, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old football coach went into the cave on Saturday and were trapped when heavy rains saw the main entrance flooded.

The British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC)is co-ordinating the UK response.

Tony Haigh, the BCRC’s communications officer, told Sky News UK divers are used to diving in the challenging conditions found in many UK caves and can conduct dives in low visibility conditions and in small passages.

A team of US military personnel from US Pacific Command, including para-rescue and survival specialists, are also helping the operation.

“Operators are trained in personnel recovery tactics and techniques and procedures,” Jillian Bonnardeaux from the US embassy told AFP.

“Essentially what they’re looking at is assessing with the Thai authorities the potential courses of action and complementing the efforts underway,” she added.

0:22

Video:Search continues for missing football team

“The divers are now ready to go in as soon as the water drops to a suitable level,” Thai Navy SEAL said on its Facebook page on Thursday.

Exhausted relatives have been camped out near the cave’s entrance for days desperately awaiting news about the missing team and their coach.

“I’m sad. I want (my son) to be safe, we’ve heard nothing from officials yet,” Thinnakorn, the father of a 12-year-old in the cave, told AFP.

Thai soldiers relay electric cable deep into the Tham Luang cave

Border guards with police dogs scoured the site for new openings into the cave, which is several miles long.

Families brought clothing belonging to the kids to help the sniffer dogs find the team.

Search teams found three new holes this week, but only one of the chimneys was accessible.

The Tham Luang cave is a popular draw for local visitors during the dry season, though a sign at the entrance warns tourists not to enter during the wet season from July to November.