Lucas Bergvall scores for Spurs while Tsimikas is off the pitch: Spurs player should have been sent off minutes before the goal

It was a tense and dramatic night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The stands were packed with roaring fans, all eager to witness the clash between Spurs and their fierce rivals. The game had already seen its fair share of moments, but what unfolded in the final moments would be talked about for years to come.

The atmosphere was electric as the match ticked toward the final 10 minutes, and Tottenham Hotspur were desperately searching for a late winner. It had been a hard-fought contest, and both teams had been involved in several controversial moments. But one, in particular, would dominate the conversation in the aftermath.

In the 80th minute, Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall, having been quiet for most of the match, found himself in the perfect position after a well-worked team move. A brilliant cross from the wing made its way to Bergvall at the edge of the six-yard box. Without hesitation, he fired a powerful shot into the back of the net, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

But the celebrations quickly turned to disbelief when TV replays and replays on the big screen showed a controversial incident just minutes earlier. While Spurs had been attacking in the other half, Bergvall had been involved in a reckless challenge on the opposing player, Kostas Tsimikas. In a 50/50 duel, Bergvall had launched into the tackle from behind, catching Tsimikas with a harsh, studs-up challenge.

Tsimikas collapsed to the ground, clutching his ankle, and for a moment, it seemed as if the game would be stopped for an injury. But miraculously, the referee, after a brief glance at the incident, chose not to issue a card to Bergvall and allowed play to continue. A number of players from both sides surrounded the referee, arguing that the challenge deserved at least a yellow card, and some even thought it was a clear red for dangerous play.

Minutes later, with Tsimikas limping off the pitch for treatment, Bergvall would score the controversial goal that ultimately gave Spurs the lead. As the ball hit the back of the net, the celebrations were cut short by boos from the away fans, who felt the earlier challenge on Tsimikas had gone unpunished.

Replays continued to fuel outrage, as fans and pundits alike questioned the referee’s decision. The argument grew louder in the following days, with many suggesting that had the referee properly punished Bergvall’s challenge, it might have shifted the course of the match entirely. Some argued that Bergvall was lucky to still be on the pitch when he scored, and the referee had failed to maintain control of the game in what was becoming a heated encounter.

The match finished 1-0 to Tottenham, but the post-match analysis centered heavily on the incident. As Spurs walked off the pitch with the three points, questions remained about the fairness of their victory. For many, the lasting image of the game would be not just Bergvall’s goal, but the sight of Tsimikas being escorted off the pitch, nursing his injury, as the player responsible for his pain was allowed to remain in the game and score the match-winning goal.