'Cruel' exit won't change Pep's VAR view

Liverpool meets Barcelona following a 6-1 aggregate win over Porto, giving England multiple clubs in the semifinals for the first time since Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in 2009.

Tottenham advanced thanks to Llorente's hip, which nudged the ball into the net in the 73rd minute for a goal that survived the VAR review.

It proved to be the last goal of the night after VAR ruled out Sterling's injury-time strike.

"That is why we love football, we feel the passion," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. "We enjoy watching football, anything can happen.

"Today we showed our great character, great personality. To score three goals against Manchester City is not easy."

Not when top-scorer Harry Kane was out through injury. Not when the midfield options were so depleted that an injury to Moussa Sissoko before halftime forced Pochettino to bring on out-of-favor center forward Llorente.

Tottenham will play the first leg against Ajax without Son Heungmin-Kane's understudy. Son scored the first two goals, then picked up a booking for a foul on Kevin De Bruyne that earned him a one-game suspension.

The South Korean showed just how influential he is for Tottenham in a scintillating start.

Four goals in the opening 11 minutes. The fifth in the 21st minute, after five shots on target.

"The first 10 minutes of this game and the last five was fairytale stuff," said Spurs midfielder Eriksen.

Sterling put City ahead in the fourth minute. Son then netted twice to put City in a position where it had to score three more goals to advance.

City did just that to take a 4-2 lead, only for Llorente-and the VAR-to have the last say.