Lucas Bergvall etched his name into Tottenham Hotspur’s history by scoring his first goal for the club in a dramatic 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday. The 18-year-old Swede netted a sublime goal in the 86th minute, driving a powerful shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to reward an injury-hit Spurs side for their resilience.
The match marked the end of Liverpool’s remarkable 24-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. The holders, who defeated Chelsea to claim the trophy last season, were uncharacteristically off their game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and had little to protest as Arne Slot’s side suffered only their second defeat of the season. Despite the setback, Liverpool remains optimistic about overturning the deficit in the return leg at Anfield next month.
Tottenham’s win comes at a critical juncture for manager Ange Postecoglou, whose team has endured a rough patch with just three wins in their last 14 matches. Spurs’ squad has been ravaged by injuries, and the situation worsened early in the game when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur left the pitch on a stretcher following a severe fall.
Despite the adversity, Tottenham displayed grit and determination. The hosts had better chances in the first half, with Radu Dragusin forcing a save from Alisson and Dominic Solanke narrowly missing a cross from Son Heung-min. Liverpool’s attack, led by Mohamed Salah, struggled to make an impact, with new Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky making a nervy but effective debut.
Liverpool did have moments of promise. Cody Gakpo’s shot in the first half almost slipped through Kinsky’s hands, and Trent Alexander-Arnold saw a late effort cleared off the line by Dragusin. However, Spurs’ defense held firm, with VAR overturning a potential goal for Solanke due to offside—becoming the first decision in the League Cup to be announced directly to the crowd by referee Stuart Attwell.
The match seemed destined for a stalemate until Bergvall’s decisive intervention. The teenager capitalized on excellent build-up play by Solanke, smashing the ball into the back of the net and sending Spurs fans into jubilant celebrations.
Postecoglou, who has faced mounting pressure due to inconsistent results, expressed delight at the win, bringing Spurs a step closer to their first silverware since the 2008 League Cup. “This victory was for the fans and the team, who have fought through tough circumstances,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Newcastle United secured a commanding 2-0 away win against Arsenal, setting up an intriguing second leg.
With the stage set for high-stakes returns, both semifinals promise thrilling conclusions in the race for the League Cup trophy.
