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Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle: More VAR handball controversy as injury-time penalty denies Spurs win

Pool via REUTERS
Pool via REUTERS

A controversial late penalty saw Newcastle United snatch a 1-1 draw at Tottenham to leave Jose Mourinho furious.

Lucas Moura sent Spurs into half-time 1-0 up, though in truth the hosts should have been out of sight after creating a number of chances.

And Mourinho's men were left to rue those misses as Newcastle levelled in stoppage time courtesy of another controversial handball decision.

Andy Carroll's header from point-blank range hit Eric Dier on the arm in the box and, after a delay for VAR, the spot-kick was given. Callum Wilson stepped up to score and secure Newcastle a 1-1 draw.

With less than 72 hours after their Europa League win over Shkendija in North Macedonia, Mourinho brought in Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane returning to lead the line.

Dele Alli's absence was more conspicuous when Moussa Sissoko pulled out of the 18-man squad with illness late on, only for Gedson Fernandes to take his place instead.

The home side were able to dominate possession with Newcastle sitting deep in a back five formation and it wasn't long before Karl Darlow was forced into action. First, he denied Giovani Lo Celso from a 25-yard free-kick and then made a reflex save to palm away Kane's close-range effort inside the first three minutes.

It was only a sign of things to come for the visitors as they faced a barrage of attempts on their goal. Kane again got a clear sight of goal, peeling off at the far post to connect with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's cross but Darlow punched over with a strong fist.

With their territorial advantage, it seemed inevitable Tottenham would break the door down and with 25 minutes gone, Lucas Moura delivered. Kane once again showed his ability to set up goals as well as score them, sending in a low cross and the Brazilian tucked away at the far post.

Kane thought he had doubled the lead two minutes later, bending a fine curler towards the far post only to watch an outstretched Darlow push it wide for a corner.

Spurs were beginning to become relentless in their attacking and it was Son's turn to go close, seeing his left-footed strike bounce off the woodwork and four minutes before the break crashed a shot against the crossbar.

Having offered precious little in the first half, Newcastle were still in the game with only a one-goal deficit to overturn and they were offered some relief when Son was withdrawn at the break, with Steven Bergwin coming on.

The second half was a slightly less entertaining affair, although Newcastle were beginning to show more attacking intent with a large share of possession.

But very few chances arrived for Lloris to deal with and despite the late arrival of Andy Carroll in the game - though penalty controversy struck late on as Wilson scored following a Dier handball after a lengthy VAR review.

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