Published: 10 January, 2016 
By DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane 

FA Cup 3rd Round 
SPURS 2, LEICESTER CITY 2  

HARRY Kane chose a vital moment to strike his 50th Spurs goal – and his first in the FA Cup – as Tottenham left it late to earn a replay against Leicester City at White Hart Lane this evening. 

The striker, who had been rested by Mauricio Pochettino, came off the bench with his team-mates trailing 2-1 – and with just three minutes remaining he buried a penalty to take Spurs to Filbert Street next week for a Cup replay. 

Speaking after the game, Pochettino said he was happy with the way his side played, considering he made seven changes to the starting 11 since the team's last Premiership outing against Everton.  

He said: "I do not know if this was a fair result – we were pleased in the end to get a draw and it is important to stay alive in the competition, but in the first half we played very well and deserved more. 

"Leicester defended very deep. We dominated, we played good football – but in the end we are happy we are still alive." 

He said the replay – due to take place next Tuesday – was an extra game that would test his squad. 

He said: "It will be tough for us – and tough for them. We are playing Leicester three times in 10 days. We will need to be strong in our minds, but I am happy with my squad. We used players who do not play consistently for the first team. They never gave up, they were always trying to get forward, and they showed their strengths." 

It looked, at first, as if Tottenham's much changed team would make light work of the task ahead. With Heung-Min Son leading the line in Kane's place, they carved the Foxes open on eight minutes. Josh Onomah played in Nacer Chadli on the left, his powerful shot was parried by Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel and Christian Eriksen was on hand to finish.  

But despite dominating possession, the lead did not last long. On 18, a Leicester corner was swung into a melee of players and Marcin Wasilewski was first to the ball. His powerful header left second-choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm with no chance. The marking was suspect with neither Toby Alderweireld nor Kevin Wimmer close enough to stop the Leicester centre-back meeting the dipping corner.  

Yet the equaliser didn't seem to rattle Spurs, who kept creating chances and looked to be playing with a gear or two in reserve. Eriksen tested Schmeichel with a free-kick and then saw the keeper gather a near post effort after a patient build-up.  

But the game swung Leicester's way from the start of the second period. On 47, Foxes substitute Shinji Okazaki went on a determined run that saw him carry the ball through two challenges and then fire home at the second attempt.  

It stunned the home team. Spurs poured forward looking for the equaliser but found the Foxes' defence in no mood to give them any change. Spurs grew increasingly desperate, and as Leicester held firm there was a sense that the FA Cup was coming to an early end for Spurs. Pochettino made a double change on 67, with Kane and Nabil Bentaleb coming on for Tom Carroll and Eric Dier, and it was this throw of the dice that brought late drama. As things looked signed and sealed for the Foxes, the excellent Danny Rose flew forward one more time and his twisting run into the box on 87 saw Nathan Dyer handle. 

Kane blasted home from the penalty spot.  

On balance, it was just about deserved – but there is no doubt Pochettino's second-string team needed a bit of luck to earn a replay.  

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier 

POCHETTINO made seven changes to his first XI – and the glaring need for a centre-forward to step in when Harry Kane isn't playing was apparent. Son battled and made the runs – but there was a definite lack of an aerial presence and someone to hold things up. 

Rookie Josh Onomah may be green but he looks ready. This wasn't an easy game for the youngster to come in to, but he showed good decision-making and some trickery when the ball was at his feet.  

Poch had to use his squad, and there can be no doubt at all that Andros Townsend's Spurs career is finished. The out-of-favour winger was again nowhere to be seen. If he had a future, surely he'd have made the bench. Poch said afterwards he wouldn't comment on rumours, but added he could only pick 17 from 25 – and tellingly, Andros wasn't one of them.  

SPURS: Vorm, Rose, Alderweireld, Son, Dier (Bentleb, 67), Trippier, Chadli (Alli, 72), Eriksen, Onomah, Wimmer, Carroll (Kane, 67). 
Subs: Lloris, Bentaleb, Kane, Lamela, Alli, Winks, Davies.