Liverpool and Tottenham reach FA Cup fourth round after coming through tricky replays
Reds overcome fourth-tier Exeter City 3-0 to set up an fourth-round clash with West Ham, while Spurs eliminate familiar foes Leicester
Liverpool overcame fourth-tier Exeter City 3-0 on Wednesday to set up an FA Cup fourth-round clash with West Ham United, while Tottenham Hotspur eliminated familiar foes Leicester City.
Liverpool had required a 73rd-minute equaliser from Brad Smith to snatch a 2-2 draw at Exeter in the teams’ first meeting and the League Two side gave another good account of themselves in the reunion at Anfield.
But Juergen Klopp’s team prevailed in the third-round replay courtesy of a 10th-minute Joe Allen strike and first Liverpool goals for 18-year-old substitute Sheyi Ojo and Joao Teixeira.
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“It’s still a short time that we’ve worked with these boys, but it was good. They showed that they are talented, with big skills, but they showed as well that they have to work, which is as it should be.”
Exeter’s 6,000 travelling fans saw their team fall behind early on when Allen tapped in at the near post after Smith had exchanged passes with Christian Benteke and cut the ball back from the byline on the left.
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Portuguese midfielder Teixeira got in on the act eight minutes later, finishing coolly from Benteke’s pass.
At Leicester’s King Power Stadium, South Korea forward Son Heung-Min produced a brilliant goal and assist as Tottenham won 2-0 to secure a trip to third-tier Colchester United.
Son broke the deadlock in breathtaking style in the 39th minute, flashing a rocket of a shot past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the right-hand apex of the penalty area.
Home manager Claudio Ranieri sent on talisman Jamie Vardy with 18 minutes remaining, but Spurs held firm to avenge their 2-1 loss to Leicester in last season’s fourth round.
“It was a fantastic performance and I’m very pleased for the players and supporters,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
With Leicester flying high in second place in the Premier League, Ranieri was philosophical in defeat.
“Tonight Spurs deserved to win, but they’re a team building for the top four,” said the Italian. “Our journey has just started.”