World of Football
Rochdale force FA Cup replay with last-gasp equaliser
What a difference a few days can make. After coming from two goals down to draw 2-all at Juventus in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, Tottenham made 11 changes yesterday and were held 2-all by English third-tier team Rochdale in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
“It was an amazing game and an amazing event for us,” Rochdale manager Keith Hill said of his bottomof-the-table team. “We took the opposition on and we know how good they are. I can’t describe my emotions. It was special. I’ve never had a moment like that.”
Rochdale had decided to dig up and re-lay the bumpy, almost grassless pitch that was used in the previous round against Millwall — and the reason became clear early on against Tottenham.
Not for this team the typical thirdtier fare of long-ball football. Hill’s Rochdale stroked the ball around to excellent effect to nullify the gulf in class between the sides and secure a lucrative replay later this month at Spurs’ temporary Wembley home.
It was no more than Rochdale deserved when Ian Henderson capped a sweeping move on the stroke of halftime with a low shot from 12m to score his sixth goal in as many FA Cup matches this season.
Eight-time FA Cup winners Tottenham, who left the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen out of their starting lineup, stepped up a gear in the second half and Lucas Moura equalised in the 59th minute.
Moura, making his first start for Tottenham, lifted the ball over goalkeeper Josh Lillis after a clever series of passes from the visiting team.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino then sent on Kane and Alli for the closing stages and the England pair combined to put their team in front with three minutes to go.
Alli was sent flying by a challenge from Harrison McGahey and Kane stepped up to rifle Tottenham in front from the penalty spot with the 34th goal he has scored for his club this season.
Then, just as Rochdale’s dreams of a trip to Wembley seemed to have died, substitute Steve Davies pounced on a left-wing cross and drove in a stoppage-time shot to the delight of the Spotland crowd.
“When they bring on the big guns and Harry Kane scores, I’ve got to follow suit haven’t I?” Davies joked.
Hill believed his Rochdale side deserved another crack at Tottenham.
“It was sacrificial behaviour at times and going 1-0 up we almost lit the bomb and knew what would come,” he said. “The heads could have gone down at 2-1 but they didn’t.
“We got what we felt was a de- served equaliser. We’ll see the replay as an opportunity. We’ll go to Wembley and have a go.”
The winner of the TottenhamRochdale replay will meet Sheffield Wednesday or Swansea in the quarter-finals.
Pochettino said Rochdale’s performance came as no shock.
“I was not surprised,” he said. “The FA Cup is magic. The motivation is always massive.”
On Sunday, Manchester United beat Huddersfield 2-0 and Brighton knocked out Coventry 3-1. Southampton defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 while second-tier Sheffield Wednesday drew 0-0 with Swansea. On Saturday, Chelsea crushed Hull 4-0 and Leicester beat Sheffield United 1-0.
The last match of the fifth round takes place this morning when Premier League leaders Manchester City take on third-tier Wigan in a repeat of the 2013 final.
Manchester United, who have won the FA Cup 12 times, will host Brighton in the quarter-finals while last year’s runners-up Chelsea face a tricky trip to Leicester. Man City or Wigan will host Southampton. — AP SCOTLAND