Kane scores hat-trick as Tottenham reach FA Cup quarters
Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Tottenham reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable win over Championship side Fulham.
Kane slid in for the opener as Kieran Trippier’s quick long throw caught the Fulham defence off guard and Christian Eriksen crossed first-time on the half-volley.
Five minutes after the break, the same three Spurs players combined again as the England striker’s controlled finish put away another Eriksen cross following Trippier’s pass.
The home side showed brief signs of a late rally, but Kane then completed his second hat-trick of the calendar year, and his fifth for Spurs, with a cool strike when put through on goal from Dele Alli’s weighted pass.
Fulham, eighth in England’s second tier, have lost just once at home in the league since October, and Slavisa Jokanovic’s side have defeated Hull and Middlesbrough at home in the cups this year.
But they were beaten comprehensively by Spurs, who put Thursday’s disappointing Europa League defeat by Gent behind them with just a third win in 15 away matches.
Spurs named a weakened team for January’s fourth-round home tie with Wycombe and scraped past their League Two opponents in a 4-3 win.
Here, Pochettino’s full-strength side might have been 2-0 up before Kane’s 16th-minute opener - scored with just three touches, including Trippier’s throw.