Tottenham Hotspur missed the opportunity to take a big step towards the knockout stages of the Europa League by conceding a draw (2-2) against AS Roma in stoppage time.
In terms of the start of the match, that ofAS Rome in North London couldn’t have been worse.
Referee Glenn Nyberg initially dismissed the appeals, but a quick VAR check confirmed it was indeed a penalty and Heung-min Son executed the sentence.
Spurs then committed the cardinal sin of taking their foot off the accelerator, and they paid for it brutally when the center Paulo Dybala was taken over by Evan Ndicka.
Roma thought they had completed their comeback shortly after when the ball fell favorably on Stephan El Shaarawy, who volleyed into the top corner, but a VAR check saved Spurs.
The hosts came close to regaining the lead a few minutes later, when Brennan Johnson was heroically blocked on the line by Angelinobefore Dominic Solanke was pushed back instantly by a superb save from Mile Svilar.
It was only a temporary respite, as Spurs regained the lead soon after, when Johnson victoriously palmed home a set piece from Dejan Kulusevski.
Spurs missed two good chances to take a two-goal lead before the break, and they were almost punished for it within 15 minutes of the restart.
Roma had the ball in the net twice, once per Artem Dovbyk and once a Manu Cone, but both goals were ruled out by the offside flag.
This match could be more like a basketball match at times, and it was 10 minutes from the end that Spurs came close to the feat when Solanke sent his header onto the crossbar.
With a meager advantage, Spurs were never able to sit comfortably in the final moments, and they paid for it in cruel fashion when Mats Hummels made up for his mistake in the first half by diverting a mischievous ball from Angeliño.
The victory could have allowed Spurs to remain in the top 8 and consider qualification for the round of 16, but instead their place seems much less assured, even if their situation remains much more positive than that of the Roma, who are still far behind the top 8.
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