- Spurs fail in bid for first quarter since 2011
- Juve to 3rd quarterfinal in four years
- Juve bidding for third final in four years
- MORE: 3 things from Wembley
Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala scored quickfire second half goals to battle back past Spurs 2-1 -- 4-3 on aggregate -- and send The Old Lady into the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Heung-min Son scored the lone Spurs goal to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at Wembley Stadium, but Tottenham failed in its bid to reach a first quarterfinal since 2011.
[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]
Harry Kane burst inside and past Giorgio Chiellini, then moved by Gianluigi Buffon but couldn’t cut his shot inside the goal post.
Douglas Costa was not given a penalty when Jan Vertonghen clipped his ankle in the box, perhaps because the Brazilian did not go down and instead tried to continue his dribble.
Instant replay is a beaut, but how this wasn’t called a penalty in real time we’ll probably never understand. So many refs!
Huge no-call at Wembley! Should Juventus have gotten a penalty here? pic.twitter.com/QYr1OiKWbT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 7, 2018
Vertonghen would pick up a yellow card soon after, and the match devolved for a bit into a series of chippy incidents after (and during) hard tackles. Sandro earned one in the 35th.
Moments after Son dragged a shot wide of goal, the South Korean put Spurs ahead 1-0 and ensured Juventus would need at least two goals to win. Kieran Trippier’s cross zipped through the 18 and Son got enough of the shot to score.
Miralem Pjanic placed a 41st minute shot wide of the near post within two minutes of the Londoners’ opener.
Chiellini saw yellow for a edgy tackle on Dele Alli two minutes before the hour mark.
Then it all fell apart for Spurs.
Juventus earned new life when Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier were watching Sami Khedira’s header and not Higuain’s move to the back post to push it past Lloris.
Within two minutes, Dybala raced past Ben Davies to catch Higuain’s pass and beat Lloris 1v1. Poor from Spurs, euphoria for The Old Lady.
What a time for Paulo Dybala to get his first #UCL goal of the season. Juventus now lead on aggregate! pic.twitter.com/MOj5ZTLI8a
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 7, 2018
Spurs pushed hard, but an emotional Juve defended with vigor. Chiellini had a fine intervention to force a corner in the 79th minute.
Any Juve’s aggrieved penalty feelings received some salve when Chiellini’s blocked shot in the 18 rebounded off his arm but went uncalled by the referee.
Then, pure anguish: Kane nodded off the ground and the post and sub Erik Lamela couldn’t get his bearing to redirect the rebound before Andrea Barzagli cleared the ball.
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22 - Son Heung-Min has been involved in 22 goals (14 goals, 8 assists) in 23 appearances at Wembley Stadium this season for Tottenham, more than any other player. Crucial. #TOTJUV pic.twitter.com/OCy305xYkA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 7, 2018
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]