Tottenham fortunate for VAR on evening when a much improved Chelsea ran them close

Tottenham Hotspur were left grateful to the League Cup’s use of the Video Assistant Referee for their opening goal here this evening. Without it they may never have gone into the 1-0 lead that they desperately clung onto for the rest of the game, and that they must now defend at Stamford Bridge at the end of this month.

When Chelsea came here in the Premier League on 24 November, Spurs ripped Chelsea apart, getting in behind their defence every time they attacked. They won 3-1 but in truth they could have scored twice as many as that. Maurizio Sarri complained after that in the defensive phase his team had been a “disaster”, a word he kept returning to, and that his team had to improve “physically, mentally, tactically, technically”.

The story of this game was how much Chelsea improved from that day. How much better Chelsea were in the “defensive phase”, and how this time they managed to exert far more pressure on Spurs than they did here less than two weeks ago. This second half performance, in which Chelsea dominated even though they did not get the equaliser they wanted, felt like a step in the right direction for a team that looked utterly lost last time they came here.

The midfield, with Jorginho anchoring and Ngolo Kante buzzing in more advanced positions, made more sense than it was done at times this season. They had more intensity than Spurs, more possession, and looked for most of the match like the more accomplished team. With better luck in front of goal they would have won this game and already be on their way to the final.

Of course Spurs can point to the scoreline and Harry Kane’s first half penalty could be a crucial moment if it does get them back here for the final. It might even be seen by the history books as a crunch moment in Spurs history if they end up lifting this trophy. But even that penalty, rightly awarded by VAR after a 93-second consultation, would not have been given in the Premier League.

Because Kane’s run in behind was initially flagged as offside by the assistant referee, and it took the VAR to prove that in fact Cesar Azpilicueta had just been playing him on. Without the recourse to that technology, Tottenham might never have taken the lead.

In the game’s opening minutes Spurs did look dangerous, trying to run in behind Chelsea, to exploit the same weaknesses they did here before. Dele Alli sent Heung Min Son through in just the second minute, darting behind Andreas Christensen. This was the same tactic through which Kane won the penalty, running in behind Antonio Rudiger onto Toby Alderweireld’s long pass.

At the time those two attacks felt like they would be a feature of the evening but in truth Spurs barely looked like scoring again after Kane’s penalty. If it looked early on as if Chelsea might have the same old defensive problems, in fact they managed to solve them, even if they could not draw the game.

Another defeat, then, and perhaps no League Cup final. But far more optimism about their direction despite all that.