Teenager Lucas Bergvall scored a dramatic 86th-minute winner as Tottenham Hotspur secured a shock 1-0 victory over defending champions Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Swede, making only his fifth appearance for Spurs, rifled a brilliant finish past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson to hand his injury-hit side a crucial win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Liverpool, who came into the game unbeaten in 24 matches across all competitions, were far from their best on the night and saw their streak come to an end.
Bergvall’s moment came just minutes after he was lucky to avoid a second yellow card for a foul on Kostas Tsimikas.
The incident drew strong criticism from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
“He should have been off, it was a big moment,” Van Dijk said post-match.
But there was no denying the quality of Bergvall’s finish, as he became Tottenham’s youngest League Cup scorer since Gareth Bale in 2007.
The strike capped a memorable night for the teenager, who also forced a critical error from Alisson earlier in the match that nearly led to a Spurs goal.
Bentancur Injury Overshadows First Half
The game was marred early on by a worrying injury to Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
The 27-year-old was stretchered off in the 14th minute after falling awkwardly during a corner kick, prompting immediate medical attention.
Spurs later confirmed that Bentancur was “conscious and talking” and had been taken to the hospital for further observation.
“I don’t want to speculate because I don’t really know [what happened to Bentancur] either,” said Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou.
“All I know is he was conscious when he came off. Obviously it was some sort of head injury, but he was conscious when he was coming off the field.
“And he’s been taken to the hospital for observation. But I’m not really clear on how it happened. Unless I get a doctor out here, I’m not going to speculate because it’s just not fair on people around him.
“But it was a head injury. And there was concern from players out there so obviously there was something going on.”
Chances and Missed Opportunities
Both sides had opportunities to break the deadlock before Bergvall’s winner.
Spurs started brightly, with Radu Dragusin forcing a save from Alisson and Dominic Solanke narrowly missing a chance from a Son Heung-min cross.
Liverpool, meanwhile, struggled to find their usual rhythm. Mohamed Salah had a rare quiet outing, firing one effort wide, while Cody Gakpo’s shot nearly squirmed under Spurs debutant goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
The second half saw Liverpool threaten through Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose shot was cleared off the line by Dragusin, and a disallowed goal from Solanke after a VAR offside ruling.
Stuart Attwell became the first referee to announce a VAR decision directly to the crowd, a moment that sparked debate but upheld the correct call.
“I would be more interested in him explaining why he didn’t give a second yellow card to Bergvall,” quipped Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the match.
Despite Liverpool dominating possession, Spurs stood firm and found their winner in the dying moments.
Solanke played a key role, fighting off defenders and setting up Bergvall, who displayed composure beyond his years to deliver a clinical strike past Alisson.
The goal sent the home fans into raptures and provided manager Ange Postecoglou with a much-needed boost amid mounting pressure after recent inconsistent results.
“We’ve had a tough run, but the players showed incredible character tonight,” Postecoglou said. ”
Lucas [Bergvall] is a special talent, and this is just the beginning for him.”
Liverpool Left to Regroup
This loss hands Liverpool their second defeat of the season and ended their hopes of extending their 24-games unbeaten run.
Spurs Dream of Ending Trophy Drought
The victory moves Tottenham closer to their first trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008.
Postecoglou, who has famously won trophies in his second season at previous clubs, will hope this campaign follows a similar script.
Fans were in full voice after the final whistle, chanting Postecoglou’s name and dreaming of silverware.
Tottenham head to Anfield next month with a narrow but vital advantage, knowing Liverpool will be formidable at home.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United, who defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the other semifinal, await their own second leg as the League Cup edges closer to its climax.
