Bergvall's Late Strike Gives Tottenham Edge Over Liverpool

Lucas Bergvall scored his first Tottenham goal to secure a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final tie, thanks to a late strike from Bergvall. This narrow victory marked only the second time in 12 competitive matches that Spurs have managed to keep a clean sheet.

In a testament to Ange Postecoglou's adaptability, new signing Antonin Kinsky made his debut in goal for Tottenham, becoming the second goalkeeper to start for the club in just a matter of days. Postecoglou has been forced to navigate a squad depleted by injuries and suspensions, but his team's resilience paid off with a crucial win over the EFL Cup holders.

Tottenham began the match against Premier League leaders Liverpool on a promising note, but their momentum was soon disrupted. After Radu Dragusin deflected a Son Heung-min shot towards goal, the game was halted due to a serious-looking injury to Rodrigo Bentancur, who was stretchered off the pitch.

The first half saw Mohamed Salah squander a decent opportunity, dragging a first-time effort wide of the target midway through the period. However, this chance proved to be an isolated incident, as the remainder of the half unfolded in a relatively subdued manner. A further injury to Jarell Quansah reduced the number of recognized centre-backs on the pitch to just two, but despite this, the teams entered the break with the score still goalless.

Since Ange Postecoglou's appointment as Tottenham manager in July 2023, the team has been known for their attacking flair, and a 0-0 draw has yet to occur under his tenure. This trend seemed likely to continue after the restart, as Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson committed a costly individual error. Alisson's hesitation on the ball allowed Lucas Bergvall to apply pressure, ultimately leading to Pedro Porro's dinked attempt, which fortunately for Liverpool, floated wide of the target.

Victory in the first leg! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ktX5W2OTjA

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025

As the match wore on, Liverpool manager Arne Slot sought to inject new life into his team's attack, making a triple substitution on the hour mark. The introductions of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Trent Alexander-Arnold added fresh impetus to the Liverpool frontline. Alexander-Arnold soon tested the Tottenham defense, seeing his shot from a tight angle cleared off the line by Radu Dragusin. As the clock ticked down, Dominic Solanke thought he had scored the winner against his former side, but the goal was ultimately disallowed for offside following a VAR review, with referee Stuart Attwell confirming the decision.

The match appeared to be heading for a stalemate, but a dramatic late turn of events saw Tottenham snatch a thrilling victory. It began with Solanke chasing down a long ball, before cleverly laying it off to Bergvall. The latter capped off an outstanding performance by sweeping the ball into the net, scoring his first goal for Tottenham and sending the hosts into raptures.

LUCAS BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!!!! pic.twitter.com/YrofUY2dVU

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2025

Bergvall's strike sealed a narrow 1-0 win for Tottenham, bringing Liverpool's nine-match unbeaten run in the EFL Cup to an end. The victory sets up a tantalizing second leg at Anfield, where Spurs can afford to draw and still advance to the final, knowing a win would end their 17-year trophy drought. Liverpool, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to retain the trophy, having suffered their first away defeat since April in all competitions.