Tottenham Hotspur fans have expressed dissatisfaction towards the Video Assistant Referee after it failed to overrule an apparent offside goal by Ajax. The complexion of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final encounter was altered early into the proceeding after Donny van der Beek put the Dutch side 1-0 up after 15 minutes.
The midfielder finished off a brilliant move after Ajax had carved open the host with a series of switch passing and movement. Having received the ball in the penalty area, the 22-year-old calmly slotted it past Hugo Lloris for his second consecutive goal in the Champions League.
Following brief consultation with the VAR, referee of the night Antonio Mateu confirmed the authenticity of the goal. However, a closer look at the build-up to the goal revealed that two Ajax players were marginally offside. Watch the incident below:
AJAX LEAD!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 30, 2019
Van de Beek scores for the second straight UCL knockout game and it is a HUGE away goal for Ajax! ( via @brlive)pic.twitter.com/CGqRI1edlJ
With van der Beek's strike proving to be the only difference in the scores for the night, Ajax grabbed its second-ever win against English opponents in seven meetings. A host of fans have since slammed the VAR whose efficiency has been questioned following a series of controversial calls after being introduced this season.
Meanwhile, Tottenham's struggles in attack could be fixed as it chases a probable win in the reverse fixture with Heung-min Son eligible to play.
So aguero was offside and van der beek wasnt?!?!?
— Ammar (@AmmarBux) April 30, 2019
Var is a joke...
Maybe I dont understand the current offside laws, but as much as van der Beek was not in an offside position, the player alongside him was and you cant tell me that he wasnt interfering with play or whatever the required term is
— Jay Kelly (@yfky) April 30, 2019
Touché! Though VAR did get the decisions right in the Spurs/City game. I can't see how Van der Beek is onside for their goal - it's close, but he's a foot offside.
— ⱼₐₘₑₛ ₛₕₑᵣᵢdₐₙ (@jamessheridan) April 30, 2019
Because de beek may have squared it. Other fwd was offside and interfered with Lloris decision. No goal imo
— Ridgeisback (@ridgeisback) April 30, 2019
Looking forward to @honigstein 's explanation of how the all-seeing-eye that is VAR says Aguero was offside but de Beek wasn't.
— Hit Les (@VonStinkelbaum) April 30, 2019
Convinced van beek's leg is offside. Neres defo was
— Harvey Pinchin (@Extr3me_Matrix) April 30, 2019
