- VAR awards Kane penalty
- Chelsea pours it on in second half
- Blues out shoot Spurs 17-6
- Backup GK Gazzaniga key for Spurs against lively Hazard
Video Assistant Referee played a huge role in the League Cup semifinal first leg between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
Harry Kane converted a penalty awarded via VAR as Spurs grabbed a 1-0 lead in match that otherwise favored the Blues.
The margin was razor-thin, and Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri thinks VAR got it wrong.
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The second leg is Jan. 24 at Stamford Bridge. The other semifinal between Manchester City and Burton Albion begins Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.
Kane was taken down in the box by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the penalty was not awarded as the Spurs man judged to be offside.
The video reviewed the call, though, and found that Kane was onside. The English captain didn’t miss from the spot, and Spurs led 1-0.
Eden Hazard was particularly vivid for Chelsea, though the Blues star could not find the back of the goal and his teammates struggled to put the finishing touch on his playmaking.
Youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi, the Bayern Munich target, played 79 minutes in the match.
7 – Eden Hazard was fouled on seven occasions against Tottenham; the most fouls he has won in a single game this season. Targeted.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 8, 2019