Tottenham vs Chelsea
Tottenham hosted Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final clash on Tuesday evening.
To make it to the semi-final Tottenham have beaten Watford on penalties in the third round, West Ham 3-1 in the round of 16 and North London rivals Arsenal 2-0 in the quarter-final.
Spurs are also enjoying their best ever start to a Premier League season and currently sit in 3rd place, just six points off top.
As for Chelsea, they would beat Liverpool 2-1 in the third round, Derby County 3-2 in the round of 16 and Bournemouth 1-0 in the quarter-final to reach this stage.
Chelsea are also having a decent start to the season and currently sit 4th in the Premier League, four points off Spurs.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 11: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the travelling fans after the UEFA Champions League Group B match between FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur at Camp Nou on December 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
VAR works in Spurs favour
The big talking point heading into tonight’s game was the absence of Alvaro Morata from the Chelsea squad.
With Morata being linked with a move to Sevilla recently it was speculated he was left out for this reason.
However, it was later revealed Morata missed out due to an injury he picked up last weekend.
Chelsea would start Eden Hazard through the middles vs Spurs and would have the better of the opening exchanges.
But Harry Kane would then be brought down inside the Chelsea penalty box by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
It did look as though Kane may have been offside prior to being brought down by Kepa.
As a result, Michael Oliver would use the ever controversial VAR.
Oliver would then award Spurs the penalty and Kane would convert making it 1-0.
#thfc striker Harry Kane is brought down in the box by @ChelseaFC keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga but he could have been offside. Now we wait on VAR!
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) January 8, 2019
Penalty! After checking with VAR, Tottenham are awarded a penalty! pic.twitter.com/LqHe38EziS
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) January 8, 2019
While VAR has divided football fans since its introduction, it does appear it was used correctly on Tuesday and has been receiving a lot of praise on social media.
Twitter reaction
Good use of VAR! Correct decision!
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) January 8, 2019
Great use of the old VAR
— Sam Lee (@Sammy_Goal) January 8, 2019
Perfect VAR.
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) January 8, 2019
Chelsea fans to VAR…. pic.twitter.com/bsHlZE86UM
— The F2 (@TheF2) January 8, 2019
I spoke to @HowardMWebb about VAR and he said that we would see exactly this sort of thing – The linesman not flagging even if the striker looks marginally offside, allowing the play to develop and giving teams a chance to score. System used perfectly. #THFC #COYS
— Jonathan Veal (@jonathandveal83) January 8, 2019
Related: Why Alvaro Morata was missing for Chelsea vs Tottenham
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