Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Morecambe
The Emirates FA Cup
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Sunday 9 January 2022
Kick-Off: 2:00pm
Attendance: 40,310
The Shrimps came within 15 minutes of an Emirates FA Cup Third Round shock, but were eventually beaten by Spurs’ superstars.
A first-half strike from Anthony O’Connor gave Morecambe a lead at the break, but with 15 minutes to go, strikes from Harry Winks, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane wrapped up the win for Antonio Conte’s side.
In the opening minute of the game, the hosts could have been ahead had it not been for a fantastic, last-ditch block from O’Connor.
After Ryan McLaughlin’s missed interception, Tanguy Ndombele took the ball forward and unleashed an effort that look destined to cause goalkeeper Trevor Carson in the Shrimps goal some trouble, but a big right-leg from the skipper denied him opening the scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was the hosts again that came close to finding the back of the net, a corner was whipped into the box from Giovani Lo Celso which found Matt Doherty at the back-post, but he could only find the outside of the post with his stooped header.
On the 33rd minute, it was be Diarmuid O’Carroll’s side who took the lead.
A corner-kick of the highest quality from Alfie McCalmont found the skipper O’Connor to latch onto and guide home past the rooted Pierluigi Gollini sending the two-and-a-half thousand Shrimps' fans into delirium.
It was O’Connor again who provided the next opportunity, his cross from the right was headed just wide of the goal by Greg Leigh who was up from the back.
Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Morecambe
The first chance of the second-half fell the way of the visitors, a flick on from Ayunga found the feet of Stockton who turned his defender superbly, before flashing a shot wide of the mark.
A string of Tottenham corners ensued from there with debutant Trevor Carson saving one at his near post as Dele Alli tried a neat flick at the near post.
Just before the hour mark, Spurs old boy Jonathan Obika made his return to N17 in place of Jonah Ayunga.
Just after the hour mark, the hosts came close again, this time an effort from Ryan Sessegnon was flashed wide of the mark.
A host of changes were made by Antonio Conte after that, with the likes of Harry Kane and Lucas Moura coming onto the field, looking to influence the game.
A jinxing run from Toumani Diagouraga saw him reach the Spurs box before pulling the trigger, however the midfielder could not recreate his heroics we saw against Doncaster Rovers last time out.
With 15 minutes of the game remaining, the hosts hit back. An in-direct free-kick from Winks managed to evade Carson in the Shrimps' goal to find the back of the net.
From there, Spurs grew stronger and managed to score their second goal of the game 11 minutes later. After Moura robbed McLaughlin in midfield, the Brazilian raced away and managed to round Carson and slide the ball into an empty net.
Conte’s substitutions clearly worked, and with two minutes of the 90 still to play, England captain Kane made it 3-1.
A drilled ball across the box found the feet of Kane, who managed to squeeze his effort round O’Connor and into the bottom corner of the Shrimps goal.
Full-time: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Morecambe
Tottenham Hotspur: Gollini, Doherty, Winks, Gil (Moura 66’), Rondon, Lo Celso (Scarlett 88’), Sessegnon (Royal 87’), Alli (Kane 66’), Tanganga, Ndombele (Skipp 66’), Davies (C).
Subs not used: Lloris, Hojberg, Sanchez.
Goals: Winks 75’.
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Carson, McLaughlin, Leigh, O’Connor (C), Bedeau (Gibson 65’), Diagouraga (Wildig 77’), Stockton, Ayunga (Obika 58’), McLoughlin, Cooney (Jones 77’), McCalmont.
Subs not used: Letheren, McDonald, Delaney, Mensah, Gnahoua.
Goals: O’Connor 33’.
Bookings: Diagouraga 44’, Cooney 74’.
Red cards: None.