Kane rescues late draw for Spurs

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11 Jan 2016

By Andy Cryer BSports

Harry Kane's controversial late penalty kept Tottenham in the FA Cup as the striker's equaliser earned a third-round replay against Leicester.

Kane scored from the spot after Nathan Dyer had been penalised for handball, to the visitors' anger.

Christian Eriksen had put Spurs ahead, with a low drive after keeper Kasper Schmeichel parried Nacer Chadli's shot.

Marcin Wasilewski's header levelled before substitute Shinji Okazaki weaved into the box and fired Leicester ahead.

Relive Leicester's draw here

Was it a penalty?

Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was booked in the aftermath of referee Bobby Madley awarding Tottenham a penalty in the 89th minute.

The ball struck Nathan Dyer's hand as he turned to attempt to tackle Danny Rose in the penalty area.

Former Wigan midfielder Kevin Kilbane told BSports One: "It is harsh but it was hand to ball - Nathan Dyer has flicked his hand out at the ball going past him."

But ex-England striker Alan Shearer and Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill both disagreed.

"I think that's a very poor decision - it's not a penalty at all, Nathan Dyer doesn't even know where the ball is. It's very harsh," said Shearer.

O'Neill added: "I agree with Alan, it's a very harsh penalty - Nathan Dyer has just turned round and doesn't know where the ball is. Doesn't it have to be deliberate?"

The heat maps of the two sides, Tottenham left and Leicester right, show how much play was in the visitors' penalty area compared to in the hosts'

Does it matter?

Some would argue Wednesday's Premier League meeting between the sides is a lot more important than an FA Cup third round tie, with both still in contention for the top-flight title.

The managers appeared to agree with Leicester making eight changes and Spurs seven from their last league outings, but there was no lack of desire from the players involved.

Despite Spurs missing the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli initially, and Leicester being without Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy entirely - the two sides produced an enthralling contest.

Tottenham's intent was clear as they brought on top scorer Kane with 24 minutes left and Alli followed soon after, while Leicester's anger at the final whistle was again evidence of how much it meant.

Spurs had 74% possession but, despite having 24 shots to Leicester's 10, they rarely threatened Schmeichel's goal.

Who needs Jamie Vardy?

Leicester went into the match having failed to score in their last three matches - after netting in each of their previous 21 games in all competitions - and with just two points from their last three league games.

With top scorer Vardy injured and playmaker Mahrez rested, the visiting fans must have feared the worst, especially when Eriksen put Spurs ahead early on.

But, perhaps fortunate to be level at the break through Wasilewski with lone striker Leonardo Ulloa isolated, the Foxes were rewarded for a more adventurous second-half approach.

Debutant Demarai Gray, a £3.7m signing from Birmingham, created Okazaki's equaliser and almost scored with a wicked 20-yard shot, and his 64-minute display showed glimpses of the pace that will cause Premier League defences problems.

It was the half-time introduction of Okazaki that added more attacking threat, although for the majority of the game Leicester were content to soak up pressure and hit Tottenham on the break.

Man of the match: Shinji Okazaki

The Leicester forward may only have played for the second 45 minutes but he scored Leicester's second goal and his industrious display added a more attacking threat

Manager reaction

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "I am happy because it was a draw and this is an important competition for us. A defeat would not have been fair, a draw is a bit more fair but if you analyse the full 90 minutes then we deserved more.

"I'm happy with the performance and we made a great effort."

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri: "I didn't see the penalty, there were two players in front of me, but the more important thing is that the referee gave the penalty so it is a penalty.

"I'm very pleased with our performance. We had eight players who had not been playing for some time, but now they played and they deserved a positive result - 2-2 is a positive result."

Stats you need to know:

Both Tottenham and Leicester scored with their first shots on target
Spurs have won eight of their last 10 FA Cup home games, with both exceptions being against Leicester (D1 L1)
The Foxes have only failed to score in one of their last 18 FA Cup games - a 0-0 draw away to Nottingham Forest in January 2012
Harry Kane has now scored 50 goals for Tottenham in all competitions
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has coached 10 of England's last 18 debutants

What next?

These two sides play again at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, in the Premier League. Leicester are second in the table and Tottenham are fourth, four points behind.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Tottenham Hotspur

13 Vorm
16 Trippier
04 Alderweireld
27 Wimmer
03 Rose
15 Dier (Bentaleb - 68' Booked )
28 Carroll (Kane - 68' )
22 Chadli (Alli - 73' )
23 Eriksen
25 Onomah
07 Son Heung-min

Substitutes

01 Lloris
06 Bentaleb
10 Kane
11 Lamela
20 Alli
29 Winks
33 Davies

Leicester City

01 Schmeichel Booked
02 de Laet
27 Wasilewski Booked
29 Benalouane
30 Chilwell
24 Dyer
33 Inler
10 King
14 Kanté (Okazaki - 45' )
22 Gray (Albrighton - 65' )
23 Ulloa

Substitutes

04 Drinkwater
05 Morgan
11 Albrighton
17 Simpson
20 Okazaki
26 Mahrez
32 Schwarzer

Ref: Robert Madley

Att: 35,805

Match Stats

Possession 73 27

Shots

24 10

On target

8 5

Corners

9 5

Fouls

10 7

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Leicester City 2.

90:00 +3:13 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Leicester City 2.

90:00 +2:05 Booking

Booking Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90:00 +1:55

Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).

90:00 +1:55

Nathan Dyer (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90:00 +1:04

Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90:00 +1:04

Foul by Marc Albrighton (Leicester City).

90:00 +0:25

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Marc Albrighton.

90:00 +0:09

Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90:00 +0:09

Foul by Marc Albrighton (Leicester City).

88:43 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 2, Leicester City 2. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

88:15 Booking

Booking Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.