Mauricio Pochettino insists his Tottenham side were not lucky to remain in the FA Cup as Harry Kane’s controversial late penalty earned a third-round replay against Leicester.
Kane had started the match on the bench at White Hart Lane but was called upon as the Foxes looked to be on course for another famous victory in their impressive season.
Christian Eriksen had fired the hosts ahead on eight minutes before Marcin Wasilewski levelled and substitute Shinji Okazaki struck moments after coming on to turn the game – only for Kane to thrash home an 89th minute penalty, and his 50th Tottenham goal, to secure a 2-2 draw.
Nathan Dyer conceded the untimely spot-kick having been adjudged to have handled the ball as Danny Rose broke into the Leicester penalty area and Kane, who had not had a chance until that point, emphatically finished to set up a replay.
It means Tottenham and Leicester will meet three times inside a fortnight as next week’s replay is preceded by a league clash between the pair on Wednesday night.
Asked if his side were lucky to get a replay, Pochettino replied: “Lucky? No. You must never give up. I didn’t see if it was or not. But sometimes the decisions are for you sometimes they are against you. If I watch it again I can give a better opinion.
“It’s true we are happy and very pleased to get the draw at the end. It’s important for us to stay alive in the competition. But if we analyse, the first half, we deserved more.
To reach 50 goals is a very proud moment for me and I look forward to the next 50, starting on Wednesday!#COYS pic.twitter.com/HcHHK98zGp
— Harry Kane (@HKane) January 10, 2016“We dominated the whole game. But I’m happy. The performance was good. We have another chance.”
Both sides made wholesale changes as Tottenham made seven alterations to Leicester’s eight – with Kane only on the Spurs bench and his fellow England forward Jamie Vardy not involved for the Foxes after minor groin surgery.
The replay adds to an already congested month of fixtures but Pochettino has backed his squad to prove its strength in depth as they embark on an important January.
Another trip to north London on Wednesday could see Leicester finish the evening top of the table, with current leaders Arsenal facing a tricky trip to Liverpool.
Claudio Ranieri is hopeful of having top goalscorer Vardy back for the game.
“Today he was 50/50,” the Foxes boss said of Vardy’s fitness. “Tomorrow he starts with us in the warm-up and Tuesday we will do the last training session and if he is okay, he will play.”
