Rochdale stun Spurs to force Cup replay
Davies stars for minnows
LONDON, Feb 18, (AFP): Lowly Rochdale scored deep into stoppage time to deny Tottenham Hotspur victory as their FA Cup fifth-round tie ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday.
It seemed Spurs had done enough to book their place in the quarter-finals when in-form England striker Harry Kane, on as a substitute, scored from the penalty spot with two minutes of normal time remaining to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
But Rochdale, who had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time
Rochdale’s Steven Davies (left), and Tottenham’s Juan Foyth challenge for the ball during the English FA Cup fifth round soccer match between Rochdale AFC and Tottenham Hotspur at the Crown Oil Arena in Rochdale, England, on Feb 18. (AP)
through Ian Henderson, equalised when substitute Steve Davies scored from 12 yards in the third minute of stoppage time.
This result meant Rochdale, bottom of third-tier League One, can now look forward to a lucrative replay at Wembley — London club Tottenham’s temporary home while their successor ground to White Hart Lane is completed.
“They say it’s every kid’s dream (to play at Wembley) and we have done enough to go there,” Davies told the BBC, before saying of his equaliser: “I’ve done my job, it’s dropped to me and I’ve finished it.”
Rochdale went ahead when Henderson crowned a slick move that made a mockery of the club’s league position with a composed finish after an excellent angled through-ball from Andrew Cannon split Spurs’ defence.
Lucas Moura, however, drew Spurs level, exchanging passes with Moussa Sissoko and beating Rochdale keeper John Lillis just shy of the hour-mark.
It seemed Spurs’ recovery was complete