Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou conceded that his team experienced a stroke of luck in their 3-3 draw with Manchester City, courtesy of a controversial late decision.
The match took a turn when referee Simon Hooper chose to halt play and award a free-kick for a foul instead of allowing the game to continue as Erling Haaland had just set Jack Grealish through on goal.
The decision interrupted a potentially threatening City attack in the closing stages of the game, with the score level at 3-3.
Postecoglou acknowledged that his team benefited from the decision, recognising the fortunate turn of events.
Asked if his team “got away with one” at the end of the game, the Australian said, “Yeah, I guess so, mate.”
He added to BBC Match of the Day: “It doesn’t affect me at all. I don’t think that is the story of the game today; there are better storylines from that fantastic game of football than one refereeing decision.”
The referee’s decision marked a dramatic conclusion to an exhilarating Premier League clash. Spurs initially took the lead with an early goal from Son Heung-min, but the joy was short-lived as the Korean inadvertently scored an own goal, leveling the score.
Phil Foden then propelled the home side into the lead, only for Giovani Lo Celso to bring Tottenham back on even terms. Jack Grealish thought he secured victory for City after 81 minutes, but Dejan Kulusevski’s header in the 90th minute sealed the final equalizer.
The crucial moment occurred after Kulusevski’s goal when referee Simon Hooper, initially playing advantage, later awarded a foul.
This decision drew strong reactions, with City’s Erling Haaland expressing his frustration both on the pitch and on social media, posting “Wtf” alongside a clip of the incident.
The draw places Spurs in fifth position on the Premier League table, trailing City by three points in third place. With four consecutive games without a win, Tottenham faces West Ham on Thursday in their next fixture.