Champions League: Spurs stun Man City in thriller, Liverpool through

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Tottenham Hotspur overcame Manchester City in a classic encounter to reach the last four of the Champions League for the first time on Wednesday, while Liverpool swept aside Porto.

Spurs, who won the first leg 1-0 and progressed after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate, will play Ajax Amsterdam for a place in the final against Liverpool or Barcelona.

It started in manic fashion with four goals in the opening 11 minutes of the game. It was a gripping spectacle right up until the dramatic finale when City had a stoppage-time goal from Raheem Sterling, which would have sent them through, ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

City fans had celebrated what looked like the goal that sent them into the last four before the replay confirmed that Sergio Aguero was offside in the build-up.

Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in Manchester, England, April 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

"It is cruel but it is what it is, and we have to accept it," said Pep Guardiola, whose side had been the stronger over the 90 minutes.

His counterpart, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was without his top scorer Harry Kane, said his team had shown all their character.

"My players are heroes. We made history, said the Argentine, whose team reached the semi-finals for the first time since the creation of the Champions League and since their 1962 appearance in the semi-finals of the European Cup.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have reached the last four for the second straight year and will face against Barcelona in the semi-final after they comfortably saw off FC Porto.

The Premier League leaders beat Porto 4-1 to advance 6-1 on aggregate with their attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all on target once again.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (R) shoots on goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Porto and Liverpool in Porto, Portugal, April 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

With their defense marshaled by the hugely impressive Virgil Van Dijk, Liverpool, who lost in the final to Real Madrid last year, are now undefeated in their previous 17 games in all competitions as they seek a Premier League-Champions League double.

"We have been together for a while, we needed to be more mature," manager Juergen Klopp said.

"That says something; it's a big statement for the club. OK we play Barca, maybe it's not too easy," the German added.

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)