Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea. Carabao Cup Semi-Final.

Wembley StadiumAttendance44,371.

Tottenham Hotspur 1

  • H Kane (26th minute pen)

Chelsea 0

    Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea: Harry Kane scores penalty winner via VAR intervention

    Report and highlights as Tottenham take advantage in Carabao Cup semi-final first leg

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    Highlights of the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie between Tottenham and Chelsea

    VAR intervened as Harry Kane's first-half penalty gave Tottenham a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Wembley.

    In an engrossing cup tie, Kane was upended by Kepa Arrizabalaga inside the box midway through the first half, with Michael Oliver awarding the penalty after VAR intervened following an initial call for offside.

    There were opposing views to the offside call, with VAR pictures seemingly showing Kane level, but Chelsea's own footage showing the upper half of his body leaning over the line.

    Kane tucked the penalty away (27), but Chelsea ended the first half on top as N'Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the woodwork.

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    Harry Kane put Spurs in front from the penalty spot against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final after a VAR referral

    Player ratings

    Tottenham: Gazzaniga (7), Trippier (6), Alderweireld (8), Sanchez (7), Rose (8), Winks (6), Sissoko (6), Eriksen (7), Dele (7), Son (7), Kane (7)

    Subs: Lamela (NA), Skipp (NA), Llorente (NA)

    Chelsea: Kepa (5), Azpilicueta (6), Christensen (5), Rudiger (6), Alonso (6), Jorginho (5), Kante (6), Barkley (6), Willian (5), Hazard (7), Hudson-Odoi (6)

    Subs: Pedro (5), Kovacic (5), Giroud (NA)

    Man of the match: Danny Rose

    Chelsea dominated the ball in the second half but failed to find the net as Andreas Christensen missed a fine chance at the far post, meaning Spurs have the advantage going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge on January 24.

    Was Harry Kane offside?
    Image: Was Kane offside? The angle shown by the VAR does not show Kane leaning over the line
    Chelsea Tottenham VAR
    Image: But from Chelsea's footage, which Maurizio Sarri showed after the game, Kane's upper body is offside

    With both Mauricio Pochettino and Maurizio Sarri chasing their first major silverware as managers, Spurs and Chelsea fielded strong sides, though the Italian did give a fifth start of the season to Hudson-Odoi on the day Bayern Munich upped their offer to £35m for the 18-year-old.

    Spurs could have had a penalty in the first few minutes as Heung-Min Son went down after a tussle with Christensen, but even the VAR decided against reviewing the incident despite a strong appeal.

    Also See:

    Team news

    After weeks of speculation surrounding his future, Callum Hudson-Odoi started for Chelsea in a front three alongside Eden Hazard and Willian.

    For Spurs, Paulo Gazzaniga started in goal, but it was an otherwise strong XI fielded after the changes made for the win at Tranmere.

    Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi fires off a shot as Tottenham's Danny Rose challenges in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Wembley
    Image: Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi fires off a shot at goal

    Kane's acrobatic effort then went straight down Arrizabalaga's throat, but the Spurs opener came against the run of play as Chelsea camped in the hosts' half.

    On a rare break, Kane nicked the ball past Arrizabalaga before being taken out, though the linesman initially signalled for offside. The VAR, led by Chris Kavanagh, showed Kane was just level, and after two minutes of confusion inside Wembley Oliver pointed to the spot to allow the Spurs striker to fiercely find the bottom left corner.

    Kante then hit the woodwork at the near post from a Marcos Alonso cross, and in first-half stoppage time Hudson-Odoi's deflected cross nearly outsmarted Paulo Gazzaniga, only to come off the inside of the post for Toby Alderweireld to clear.

    After the break, Kane stung the hands of Arrizabalaga from range after a nice move, before Kante did the same at the other end with a dipping 25-yard effort.

    Match referee Michael Oliver points to the penalty spot after a foul by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga during the Carabao Cup, semi final match at Wembley, London
    Image: Match referee Michael Oliver points to the penalty spot after the VAR intervened

    Christensen then missed a clear chance at the far post as Ross Barkley headed on Eden Hazard's corner, the defender slicing wide having failed to get his feet right.

    Chelsea pushed late on and would not have been begrudged an equaliser, but Spurs held on for a third straight win over their London rivals for the first time since 1961-1963.

    Live Renault Super Sunday

    The managers

    Mauricio Pochettino: "I don't like it [VAR], today we got the benefit but watching the World Cup and La Liga - no-one is happy. To get the benefit is nice but I'm not happy to win the game like this.

    "I prefer the technology but in a different way and to be clear in the way we use it. I am pro-technology as you can't stop the evolution. When are you going to use it? I don't think it's clear - before we use it all clubs need to agree with ideas. If not it's going to be difficult."

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    Mauricio Pochettino does not believe that VAR is the right solution for the Premier League in its current form

    Maurizio Sarri: "I saw the video from our camera a few minutes ago, it was offside. Our camera was in line with Kane, and it was offside, but it's not important.

    "With the head, it's offside. But it's not important. It was important that the linesman stopped the run, he didn't follow the ball, so he had a big influence on our defenders, and at the moment I think the English referees aren't able to use the system."

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    Maurizio Sarri claimed that Chelsea's video analysis showed that Harry Kane was offside

    Opta stats

    • Chelsea are just the second team to lose twice against the same opponent at Wembley in a single season, after Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal in 1992/93, who lost the League Cup final and an FA Cup final replay to the Gunners.
    • Kane is now the outright fourth highest goalscorer for Tottenham, scoring his 160th goal.
    • Kane has scored in each of his last six games in all competitions for Tottenham, equalling his best ever streak for the club (6 games between Oct-Nov 2015).
    • Pochettino took charge of his 250th match for Tottenham in this game - his record stands at 143 wins, 53 draws and 54 defeats.
    • Hazard was fouled on seven occasions against Tottenham; the most fouls he has won in a single game this season - winning seven of Chelsea's 10 free-kicks.

    What's next?

    Spurs host Manchester United on Super Sunday at 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League, while Chelsea host Newcastle on Saturday at 5.30pm.

    Play Super 6
    Play Super 6

    Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.