Tottenham 6-1 Rochdale: Llorente nets 12-minute hat-trick
Amid the talk of balls and brass monkeys the FA Cup presented another night of video assisted farce, this time with the unexpected feature of a 12-minute hat-trick by Fernando Llorente.
Tottenham scored six in the snow and they might easily have had more with a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) for an innocuous foul and a penalty disallowed for an illegal feint by Son Heung-min.
By the end of the night, this decision cost Son his hat-trick but he settled for two goals and an assist as Spurs finally saw off the spirited challenge of their League One opponents.
Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick in the space of 12 second-half minutes to seal Tottenham's passage to the next round
Llorente celebrates with his Tottenham team-mates as a second-half rout undid the hard work of League One side Rochdale
Llorente celebrates with his Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min, who also hit the back of the net twice on a snowy night
Stephen Humphrys and his Rochdale team-mates celebrate after he brought Rochdale level at 1-1 in the opening 45 minutes
Referee Paul Tierney was forced to use the Video Assistant Referee technology a number of times during the FA Cup replay
Tottenham came through the match amidst heavy snow in the second half to seal their passage to the FA Cup quarter-finals
Even so, this was not Rochdale going out quietly. They fought back to equalise through Stephen Humphrys during a first-half and almost took a lead into the interval when Andrew Cannon hit a post.
Tottenham proved too strong in the end. Kyle Walker-Peters added a sixth but this has been an enthralling Fifth Round tie and few of the 25,000 who braved the conditions for the replay will forget the scenes they witnessed at Wembley.
When they thaw out, the debate about the technology trial being rewound and replayed from every conceivable angle.
Feedback from the players should be interesting. None of them enjoyed shivering through seven first-half stoppages.
By the time Llorente scored his second to make it 3-1, Son was ridiculing the system by incorporating the TV mime into his celebrations and referee Paul Tierney may have required de-icer to free his index finger from his earpiece.
It was a night to forget for Tierney, summed up when he tried in vain to make his white spray show up on a white pitch.
Erik Lamela celebrates with Tottenham team-mate Fernando Llorente after giving Tottenham an early lead at Wembley
But the goal was ruled out after the video assistant referee ruled a Rochdale player had been fouled by Fernando Llorente
Match referee Tierney confirms the goal has been disallowed after consulting with the VAR system for two minutes
Lamela looks confused as he discusses the situation with his Tottenham team-mate Harry Winks as they wait for a final call
Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min fires the ball into the net to give them a one-goal lead at Wembley
Son makes the shape of a heart with his hands after giving Tottenham the lead over League One's bottom side on Wednesday
Spurs, in their white shirts, became increasingly camouflaged as the snow settled and ground staff ran on with shovels to clear the lines during a break in play like a synchronised sequence from a ceremony at the Winter Olympics.
Signs had been there before kick-off when Wembley's lines were painted blue only to find blue did not work with the video technology.
So, they were painted white again. Then, a paler blue as the officials sought the right shade. If only that had been the end of it.
In fact, there was a VAR intervention within six minutes to rule out a goal by Erik Lamela for a foul by Llorente.
There was no protest from Rochdale and Llorente was merely competing for the ball with defender Harrison McGahey but Tierney and his video assistant Graham Scott conferred – as they are obliged to do after all goals - and spotted an offence.
Referee Paul Tierney consults with the VAR before upgrading Tottenham's free-kick to a penalty kick in the first half
Son converts the penalty and runs off to celebrate thinking he has doubled Tottenham's lead in the FA Cup fifth round replay
Son looks surprised as the referee overturns the penalty and books Son, who appeared to stall his run when taking the penalty
Son started his run before stalling in an effort to throw the Rochdale goalkeeper off, but that is against the laws of the game
The South Korea international is shown a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney after his penalty infringement in the first half
Suddenly there were appeals from players, managers and supporters for everything to be referred to the video referee.
When Lucas Moura tumbled under a challenge by McGahey, Pochettino was miming a television square with his hands for the benefit of fourth official Roger East.
Tierney jammed his finger into his ear again but this time there was no penalty and three minutes later there was an actual goal which was allowed to stand.
Son collected a pass from Lamela, skipped past two challenges and curled a right-footer beyond Lillis.
Just as order seemed restored, there was another VAR intervention and a free-kick for Spurs, for a foul was upgraded to a penalty.
Matt Done had a hand on Kieran Trippier's shoulder outside the penalty area but the full-back summoned the strength to keep running until he was inside the box, whereupon he fell over.
Stephen Humphrys strikes just two minutes after Son's penalty gaffe to bring League One side Rochdale back on level terms
Humphrys runs to celebrate with his Rochdale team-mates after scoring a goal as snow falls at Wembley Stadium
Tottenham's Eric Dier reacts in anger as the Tottenham team concede a goal that draws them level with League One Rochdale
Groundsman at Wembley work hard to clear the pitch of snow during the half-time break as it continues to pour in London
The decision was amended after another conversation between Tierney and Scott. It was barely a foul but once a foul had been adjudged, the location became relevant.
Up stepped Son to score the penalty kick but this 'goal' was to be ruled out for an 'illegal feint' as he ran up to address the ball.
A feint in mid-run itself is not illegal but to feint at the very end of the run-up can be classed as unsportsmanlike conduct, which this was. Son was booked and Rochdale awarded a free-kick.
Pochettino shrugged in despair and his players, especially at the back, lost their focus and conceded an equaliser when Humphrys accepted a fine pass from Cannon with an exquisite first touch and beat Michel Vorm.
Cannon then thumped a shot against a post and the second-half may have been different had Rochdale come out to protect a lead.
Spanish striker Llorente chips the ball over Rochdale goalkeeper Josh Lillis early in the second half to restore the lead
The Tottenham striker soon added his second and his team's third to give them room to breathe in the FA Cup replay
As the snow continues to fall heavily, Llorente seals his 12-minute hat-trick with a leaping header, also sealing the victory
Llorente runs to celebrate with the goal-maker Son (pictured left) after completing his rapid second-half hat-trick
Son opts for a muted celebration after scoring his second of the game and Tottenham's fifth to seal an emphatic victory
Instead, Spurs recovered their composure and took command with three goals by Llorente.
The first two were served up by Moura, the first a pass threaded through the defence which was clipped over Lillis, the second stabbed in from close range.
His third was created by Son with a dribble through the penalty area and a chip onto his head.
After two goals in seven barren months at Tottenham here were three in 12 minutes.
Son to tapped the fifth into an open goal and Walker-Peters came on to score his first goal in senior football in stoppage-time and Tottenham have an FA Cup quarter-final at Swansea.
Cameras at the ready.
Kyle Walker-Peters finishes the League One side off with Tottenham's sixth goal in the final minute of injury time
The Tottenham youngster celebrates his goal as the few remaining supporters inside Wembley rise to applaud their star
The Wembley pitch looks blanketed in a layer of snow as temperatures continue to plunge in north London on Wednesday
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