Harry Kane saves Spurs with late FA Cup penalty

Tottenham 2 Leicester 2.

A controversial last minute penalty from Harry Kane salvaged Spurs a share of the spoils at home to Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup as the two surprise Premier League contenders fought it out for a stab at the cup.

The Foxes, who beat Tottenham in the same tournament last year, had looked set to repeat the feat thanks to goals from Marcin Wasilewski and substitute Shinji Okazaki before Nathan Dyers handball at the death.

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"It was very important," said Kane of his equaliser. "The fans kept us in the game and we're happy we could keep them in it with a replay."

Spurs took the lead after Christian Eriksen's crisp finish from the edge of the penalty area on nine minutes, but a Tottenham side showing seven changes from that which drew at Everton last week failed to capitalise on their early advantage and allowed Leicester to seize the initiative after Wasilewski drew the Foxes level from a corner.

The visitors then took the lead when Okazaki, who was introduced at half-time, scored just two minutes into the second period to put the visitors ahead, jinking past three Tottenham defenders before sliding the ball past Michel Vorm at the second attempt.

But with just a minute of normal time remaining referee Robert Madley ruled that Dyer had handled the ball as he tried to stop Danny Rose's surging run into the box. Despite furious protests from Leicester, Kane kept his composure to beat Kaspar Schmeichel with his penalty kick.

Admitting he was "happy" to take the to a replay, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "We deserved more. In the first half we were a bit unlucky. I'm very pleased with the performance, but today is a good example of not giving up and fighting."

The two teams will soon be sick of the sight of each other. Between now and the replay next week, the sides clash in the Premier League, and Pochettino said of that fixture: "Now it is about picking the best 11 players for Wednesday. We have a lot of games in different competitions and you need to keep your squad fit."

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri refused to be drawn into a row about the controversial late penalty, saying simply: "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."

But the majority of pundits took the opposite view. "I think that's a very poor decision - it's not a penalty at all, " Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. "Nathan Dyer doesn't even know where the ball is. It's very harsh."

His comments were echoed by another former England striker, Peter Crouch, who told the Beeb: "It's not a penalty... Dyer has stuck his hand out to block the run of Danny Rose and it's just hit the ball."