Mats Hummels atoned for conceding an early penalty by firing in a late equaliser for Roma in a action-packed 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.
With just two minutes on the clock, the veteran German took down Pape Matar-Sarr in the box a challenge that was initially waved off by referee Glenn Nyberg. However, in what was a prelude for the busy night VAR would have, Nyberg overturned the decision.
Heung-Min Son made no mistake in stepping up and cooling early nerves by sending Mile Svilar the wrong way from the spot.
Tottenham’s early goal was the ‘dilly-ding, dilly-dong’ that Claudio Ranieri’s side needed as a peach of a ball from Paulo Dybala was met by Evan N’Dicka who nodded in the equaliser.
Spurs fans then watched with bated breath as Roma continued to attack and had the ball in the back of the net just three minutes later, but VAR came to the rescue again, ruling Stephan El Shaarawy’s goal out for offside.
The remainder of the first period belonged to Spurs who pillaged the Roma backline and regained a lead after Brennan Johnson turned in a cross from Dejan Kulusevski. Two very nearly became three when the home side had two bites of the cherry only to see both Johnson and Dominic Solanke denied by a super double save from Svilar.
Roma broke fast out of the blocks after half-time to get back on level terms but VAR once again, had other plans for Il Giallorossi. Artem Dovbyk watched on as two goals he was involved in were chalked off for marginal offsides in quick succession.
Referee Nyberg was called upon again to make a big decision when Rodrigo Bentancur’s late sliding challenge on Alexis Saelemaekers caused the Roma bench to erupt calling for a red but the decision, after a brief check, stood.
Despite Roma’s second-half dominance, Spurs did come close to adding to the margin after substitute James Maddison played in Solanke but Svilar denied him once again.
Hummels’ late goal puts Spurs ninth in the Europa League while Roma earn their first point under Ranieri.
