Champions League: Manchester City 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur (4-4 on aggregate) - 5 talking points

Tottenham Hotspur ended Manchester City’s quadruple dreams as they advance in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League courtesy of the away goals rule. Goals, drama, controversy, ecstasy. You name it, this game had everything. The match began in flying fashion with 4 goals in the opening 10 minutes, the fastest four goals in a Champions League match.

Raheem Sterling opened the scoring before ever dependable Heung Min Son replied with a brace. Sterling put City ahead on the night in the 20th minute when he applied the final touch to an inch-perfect De Bruyne cross after Bernando Silva had leveled the proceedings with some assistance from the error-prone Hugo Lloris. Sergio Aguero then put City in front of Spurs on aggregate as his powerful hit left Lloris with no chance in goal.

At this point, it looked like one of those nights when Aguero who had missed that decisive penalty in the first tie would seal City’s fate just like he had done on numerous occasions. But more dramatic events were to follow in the aftermath of the goal. In the 73rd minute, substitute Llorente bundled in a corner which appeared to take the slightest of nicks of his elbow( you needed a snickometer to prove that) before deflecting of his hips and ending up in the back of the net. This proved to be the clincher for Spurs as they were ahead again on away goals.

Raheem Sterling then scored in stoppage time that looked like the goal that would send City through, only to be disallowed after Sergio Aguero was found offside in the build up to the goal. City's joy turned to misery as Spurs couldn't believe their luck as they manged to dump the title favorites out of the competition.

Here are 5 talking points from the thrilling, nail-biting encounter from the Etihad stadium:

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#5 Goals Galore, Frantic start sets the tone

Goals! Goals! Goals!

Spurs had a vital one-goal lead coming into the game and had kept a crucial clean sheet at home. All these factors meant Mauricio Pochettino and his troops would have been aware of the importance of an away goal as City had failed to register in Spurs' dazzling new stadium. In the end, that goal played a huge part in their progression.

Sterling continued his rich vein of form when he brilliantly curled the ball past Lloris to give City a flying start to the match. However, Heung-Min Son, who was rested in the game against Huddesfield, indicated his importance to his team and delievered yet again with a brace in the space of two minutes.

First, he capitalized upon a weak clearance by Aymeric Laporte to sidefoot the ball into the net to put Spurs in front on aggregate. For the second goal, Lucas Moura pounced on a sloppy first touch by Laporte again, to win the ball in a dangerous area before playing it to Son whose curling effort put Spurs in the driving seat with a two-goal lead.

But the joy was cut short when Bernado Silva’s effort took a deflection from Danny Rose to roll into the net.

The goal-laden period was completed when Sterling was at the end of a sumptuous, precise cross by De Bruyne. Defensive errors, an ultra-attacking approach due to the away goals factor meant the fans were treated to an exhilarating start to the match.

#4 Sissoko injury gives City control in midfield

Sissoko injury opened the door for City comeback

The most important component of Pep Guardiola’s philosophy is ball retention and swift transitions from back to front. In the reverse fixture, City lacked their fluidity as Fernandinho, their metronome at the back received special attention from Dele Alli. Alli marked him tightly and was disciplined throughout the match thus cutting out the supply line which also lacked De Bruyne’s dynamism in midfield.

Sissoko played a huge role too, with his box-to-box presence making tackles, pressing incessantly and offering tenacity in the middle of the park. He did the same in last night's game and helped screen the Spurs defence along with Victor Wanyama.

But his injury forced Pochettino to make a change who surprisingly bought on a centre-forward in Fernando Llorente for the defensive midfielder. Thus, this move saw City stamp their authority with Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernado, and David Silva exercising control in midfield.

This coincided with a sustained period of possession where Spurs did not create few chances and Pep’s men looked likely to get on the scoresheet with every passing minute.

#3 De Bruyne makes a point, returning players make a mark

De Bruyne shows his class with an excellent performance

One of the strange decisions made by Guardiola was to drop Kevin De Bruyne in the away leg. And given his exemplary performance yesterday, in hindsight, the move seems pretty bizarre. De Bruyne movement, energy, and passing genius are unmatchable. The weight on the pass for Sterling’s second was exquisite while his direct running and powerful drive in midfield were a common theme in the game.

De Bruyne reminds everyone so much Yaya Toure in his pomp when he used to dominate games with his physical stature to brush past midfielders and then unleash a powerful shot or link up with his teammates. De Bruyne is quite similar as his directness gives City another dimension.

The Belgian became the first player to deliver three assists in a Champions League quarter-final since Ryan Giggs achieved the feat with Manchester United against Roma in 2007.

He also interchanged smoothly with Bernardo Silva, who along with Sterling, has been a standout figure at City this season. The Portuguese missed the first leg through injury and was an upgrade on the ineffective Riyad Mahrez. Both these returning players strengthened the City line up and did all in their power to get City over the line.

#2 VAR serves justice

Llorente's controversial goal

VAR has been the center of many discussions since its implementation in the beautiful game. It has its fair share of believers as well as doubters but there is no doubt that if not for its presence, Spurs could have been unjustly knocked out from the competition. Its first big moment came when Fernando Llorente scored from a corner which looked like a handball on first impression.

However, replays showed that the ball deflected of his hips after taking the faintest of touches of his elbow to nestle into the net. However, City players were convinced that the ball struck Llorente’s hand and pleaded their case to overturn the goal. The referee rechecked the incident on the pitchside monitor before signaling that the goal stood and that the ball came off Llorente’s hip.

The best bit of drama though was reserved for the last. City just needed a solitary goal to go through and went hammer and tongs at Spurs with all they had in the dying embers of the game in their bid to find a winner.

And they nearly succeeded when Raheem Sterling netted in the 93rd minute and sent the City fans in a frenzy.

He peeled away in celebration, there were knee slides while Pep was hopping, punching the air and running crazy with ecstasy. Spurs were devasted as their valiant effort were not enough to stop the City juggernaut but VAR had other plans. The VAR team communicated to the ref that Aguero was offside in the build up to the goal and the referee signaled that the goal wouldn’t stand, with disbelief and shock spreading on the faces of everyone.

It was almost like Spurs were resurrected in the Champions League and City who had one foot in the semi final were pulled back and thrown off course. Pep had his head in his hands and that reaction summed up the entire evening, a match that will be talked about in years to come.

#1 Can Spurs go all the way?

Can Poch take Spurs all the way?

Who would have thought at the start of the season that we will be seeing Ajax taking on Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League? But it is a testament to their incredible performances that now one of these two will be going to Madrid with a chance to lift the prestigious trophy.

From almost getting knocked out in the group stages to reaching the semi-finals, Pochettino’s Spurs have shown incredible mettle, character and big game temperament to fight their way to this stage. Without their captain Harry Kane, Spurs knocked out one of the title favorites and proved that they are not a “ Harry Kane Team” - a title once bestowed on them by Pep Guardiola.

Meanwhile, they are the seventh different English Club to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League since it was rebranded and their second since the 1961-62 season. And all this, with a restrained budget, thin squad, and injury issues, only highlight the fantastic job that Pochettino has done. The Champions League has sprung many surprises and has been an open competition after Real Madrid’s stranglehold on the trophy in the last few years.

If Spurs can get their injured players back and play with the same vigor and verve that they have shown in these two ties , then you never know Pochettino might guide them to a historic Champions League win.