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Rochdale forces replay with Spurs thanks to 93rd-minute equaliser

OLI SCARFF / AFP / Getty

Tottenham Hotspur was forced into another FA Cup replay against lower-league opposition after Rochdale's Steve Davies lashed home a leveller in the dying moments of Sunday's fifth-round clash.

Keith Hill's side is languishing at the bottom of the third tier, but its showing warranted a rematch at Wembley. Some Tottenham players looked short of match fitness in Rochdale - Toby Alderweireld, Victor Wanyama, and Harry Winks were all off the pace - but the final score meant Spurs have now recorded 2-2 draws against Liverpool, Juventus, and Rochdale in their last three away outings.

And it books Tottenham's second FA Cup replay in this term's run after requiring a repeat meeting with League Two's Newport County to advance from the previous round.

Ian Henderson scored on the stroke of half-time after Winks was robbed of possession in midfield, but the Premier League giant responded in the second stanza via full debutant Lucas Moura and Harry Kane, who pocketed a penalty 12 minutes after his introduction from the bench.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

It looked to be a cruel exit for a club that was roared on by the Spotland support, but Rochdale's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in its history were kept alive by Scouse striker Davies.

There can be few excuses from Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino fielded a strong team in Rochdale, and the host resurfaced the pitch at its modest home days after the Argentinian complained about its quality.

"I've been out for seven weeks and found it tough to get back into the team, but I've done my job and stuck it in," Davies said post-match, according to the Guardian's Nick Ames. "You look around and it was written, wasn't it?"

Henderson shared his excitement about potentially playing at one of world football's most famed venues.

"I've always dreamed of playing at Wembley and now I can say I've played there - if i'm fit and picked!" Henderson told BBC One.

The winner of the replay at Tottenham's temporary abode will travel to either Sheffield Wednesday or Swansea City in the quarter-finals.

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