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Mauricio Pochettino defiantly refused to leave the dugout at the Red Bull Arena last night after being sent off during a fiery flashpoint in Tottenham's dramatic 3-2 defeat by Roma.

The Spurs boss lost the plot in a spectacular meltdown which ended with the Argentinian being ordered to the stands after a heated second half bust up.

Pochettino clashed with the the fourth official over erratic refereeing by Hilario Grajeda who'd earlier handed Roma a controversial penalty and refused a Spurs spot kick appeal.

But despite Grajeda signalling to his touchline assistant - both MLS officials - to dismiss the Tottenham chief the referee did an embarrassing U-turn as Pochettino refused to budge.

After arguing fiercely with the fourth official Pochettino and first team coach Miguel D'Agostino sat back down on the bench with the furious Spurs chief folding his arms in defiance.

(Image: AFP) (Image: EPA)

The game re-started with the match officials appearing to be intimidated by the Tottenham bench.

Grajeda clearly backed away from further confrontation after initially attempting to get a stadium official to remove Pochettino.

Pochettino later:"It was a situation that we were talking in Spanish, not in English. But I believe it was a chat that OK, we were talking and then started to speak louder.

"But for me then I said to him, I apologise. Maybe I was a bit nervous for some situations that were happening on the pitch.

"But he wanted me to be sent off but I said 'come on that's no sense because we were talking in Spanish and nobody could understand us'.

"I said 'Come on, all that happened there stayed between us. It was all good I think. It was not a problem. I apologised to him about my behaviour."

The clash with the officials is unlikely to be taken any further with the International Champions Cup not covered by UEFA disciplinary rules.

It marked a disappointing night after Tottenham thought they'd earned a draw with two late goals from Harry Winks and Vincent Janssen in the closing minutes of the game in New Jersey.

That cancelled out a controversial early penalty for handball against Cameron Carter-Vickers - scored by Roma star Diego Perotti - and a 70th minute strike by Cengiz Under.

But after Janseen's leveller Roma broke straight down the pitch and scored a last gasp winner with Marco Tumminello netting at the far post past Hugo Lloris.

Pochettino and his stars now move on to Nashville for the final game of their three match US tour against Manchester City on Saturday.