VAR drama denies us last-gasp winner against Sporting - on-the-whistle report

Harry Kane’s 95th-minute goal was controversially disallowed for offside as we thought we’d booked our place in the Champions League knockout stages, only to have to settle for a draw against Sporting CP at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Our wild celebrations were dramatically cut short as it looked like we’d won with the last kick of the game, but a VAR check decided Kane was offside, which means it’s all to play for in our final Group D game in Marseille next Tuesday, with all four teams still able to qualify. Earlier, our former Academy graduate Marcus Edwards returned to N17 to fire his Sporting side into a 22nd-minute lead during a disappointing first half, but we rallied after the break, equalised through a Rodrigo Bentancur header and then laid siege to the Sporting goal, unfortunately without reward.

The visitors were the better team in the first half, Sebastian Coates heading just wide from a corner and Paulinho side-footing Pedro Porro’s cross over the bar from eight yards out, before they went ahead. Edwards played a quick one-two just inside our half, advanced towards goal and then hit a low accurate drive past Hugo Lloris’ dive, right into the corner of the net.

Our best chance of the half came on 38 minutes, Heung-Min Son’s low curler comfortable for Antonio Adan. After the break though, there was much more intent from us as we pushed for the equaliser. On 52 minutes, Eric Dier’s swivelling volley was saved by Adan, Cristian Romero’s drive was blocked by Coates and Matt Doherty slammed the loose ball over the bar from the edge of the area. Adan then kept out Son’s effort from a tight angle, but Sporting were now a threat on the break, Francisco Trincao firing over with a half-volley.

Both sides had chances as the game progressed, Adan keeping out Doherty’s left-footed shot with a smart save and Dier glancing Son’s corner just over, before substitute Flavio Nazinho had two glorious opportunities, the first saved by Lloris and seconds later, he drilled wide with the goal gaping after Lloris had kept out Pedro Porro’s effort. Those were costly misses for the visitors as we levelled just moments later, Ivan Perisic delivering a corner and Bentancur climbed highest to beat Adan to the ball and nod into the back of the net.

Both sides almost snatched the win in the closing minutes. First, Dier headed wide when unmarked from Clement Lenglet’s cross, Sporting substitute Fatawu Issahaku then forced Lloris into a great save at full stretch before we broke away in stoppage time, only for Bentancur to fire over the bar.

We thought that was it, but there was late, late drama. Another deep cross from Perisic was headed back towards the goal by Emerson Royal, hit Nazinho and fell into the path of Kane who smashed it into the back of the net. Cue pandemonium in the stadium as everyone celebrated, only for the mood to be dampened as VAR checked the goal, and then ultimately disallowed it as Kane was deemed to have been offside.

Reaction on SPURSPLAY

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Bentancur 80; Sporting – Edwards 22.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Romero; Sporting – Coates, Ugarte.

Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands).

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Partly cloudy, moderate breeze, 15 degrees.

Attendance: 59,588.