Mourinho admits 'best team lost' as Son sends Spurs into FA Cup fifth round

Jose Mourinho admitted Tottenham got lucky after Son Heung-min's late penalty secured a dramatic 3-2 win against Southampton in FA Cup fourth-round replay. Mourinho's side were 12 minutes away from being kcked out after squandering first-half lead given to m by Jack Stephens' own goal. Shane Long and Danny Ings scored as Southampton hit back to take lead at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But Lucas Moura equalised before Son won and converted decisive penalty with just two minutes left.

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'We suffered but we deserved to win': Jose Mourinho

"I have to be honest and say I think best team lost on pitch but my team were ones with more heart and went to ir limit," Mourinho said."We suffered but we deserved to win because we were in our limits. Southampton were fresher than us but we played with our souls and heart and gave absolutely everything." 

Tottenham, who last won FA Cup in 1991, will host struggling rwich in fifth round in first week of March.Aiming for first trophy of his reign, Mourinho, who replaced Mauricio Pochetti earlier this season, will be relieved Tottenham avoided a surprise exit from a competition he has t won since 2007 with Chelsea. Taking credit for win in classic Mourinho self-promoting style, he said: "I think I did very well because I had to man a team with so many difficulties.

" priority is to survive. We have lots of difficulties. I'm t speaking just about Harry Kane, I'm speaking about injuries to Giovani lo Celso and Erik Lamela."Today was a team completely unbalanced, really hard to organise it." Tottenham are without a major trophy of any kind since 2008 League Cup and Mourinho would dearly love to end that drought, but his team will have to improve significantly on this erratic display.

Mourinho will also have to get Jan Vertonghen back onside after defender's dejected trudge off pitch following his substitution."I understand his sadness, it is rmal. He is always respectful and always professional. It doesn't make me happy to make a substitution. I did it for team, Jan is happy for team," Mourinho said. Tottenham had won eight of ir last nine home games against Southampton, including a 2-1 success in Premier League earlier this season, and y were in front after 12 minutes.

READ: Tottenham secure thrilling 3-2 win over Southampton to reach FA Cup fifth round

Dele Alli nutmegs referee during Tottenham's win against Southampton: WATCH

Momentum swing 

Ryan Sessegn's burst opened up Southampton defence and when ball bounced to Tanguy Ndombele on edge of area, midfielder drilled a powerful shot that took a big deflection off Stephens into his own net. Ings should have equalised when he ran onto James Ward-Prowse's pin-point pass and got to ball ahead of hesitant Hugo Lloris, but in-form striker's shot canned back off bar. Southampton's 34th-minute equaliser carried more than a whiff of blame for Lloris, who limply parried out Nathan Redmond's shot for Long to slot home.

re was a blow for visitors before half-time when Ward-Prowse was stretchered off after needing oxygen for a knee injury suffered in a challenge with Sessegn. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side deservedly took lead in 72nd minute. Redmond made an incisive surge from deep inside his own half and slipped a pass to Ings, who cut past Japhet Tanganga before curling a fine finish into far corner from 18 yards for his 17th goal of season. But Lucas came to Tottenham's rescue in 78th minute when he took Dele Alli's pass and cleverly turned into on edge of area before drilling a superb strike into far corner.

momentum had swung in Tottenham's favour and Son won it in 88th minute when he charged into area and went down under minimal contact from goalkeeper Angus Gunn.Son stepped up to take penalty himself and fired home to send Tottenham into last 16. 

(Im Courtesy: AP)