Leicester 2-2 Manchester United: Late Axel Tuanzebe own goal seals point for Foxes
In the end, it was the old-fashioned centre forwards who would prove decisive, two 33-year-olds with the experience to keep their head when big moments came. Jamie Vardy is a phenomenon and popped up at the end to force an own goal from Axel Tuanzebe which ensured Leicester got their just desserts from a thoroughly entertaining Boxing Day clash.
And though he didn’t score, Edinson Cavani made a crucial intervention after coming on to show Anthony Martial what leading the line really looks like. To ensure the next generation weren’t overshadowed, Marcus Rasford scored his 50th Premier League goal at the age of 23 and Harvey Barnes hit the best goal of the match.
Perhaps it is a sign of how far Leicester have risen in the past ten years that these sides met as equals, well matched opponents at the top end of the table. Of course, it could equally be an indication of United’s decline. Be that as it may, there is little to split them. And committed as both are to attack, they delivered a sparkling game if a little loose on the defensive side.
Jamie Vardy ensured Leicester stayed second above Manchester United as his late strike deflected off Axel Tuanzebe
The Leicester forward celebrated after turning the ball in off the defender’s legs with the strike going down as an own goal
Bruno Ferandes made it 2-1 in the 79th minute after Edinson Cavani threaded the ball through for the midfielder to finish
The Portuguese midfielder now has 14 goals and eight assists in all competitions for the Red Devils this season
The introduction of Cavani proved significant as the Uruguayan came off the bench to set up the goal for Fernandes
Marcus Rashford gave his side the lead in the 22nd minute with a cool finish after latching on to a Bruno Fernandes pass
Harvey Barnes pulled Leicester level in the 31st minute with a fantastic left-footed strike from the edge of the box
United failed to close the England international down and David de Gea was unable to get across to make the save
You felt this game had the requisite entertainment value within it when the first three minutes produced two excellent chances for either side. Rashford’s sole vulnerability was exposed 75 seconds in when Bruno Fernandes delivered pretty much the perfect cross. In space, with time to set himself and eight yards out, Rashford headed over. His finishing is much improved but there are still too many moments like those.
Two minutes later Marc Albrighton’s pass and James Justin’s run caught out Luke Shaw and Vardy volleyed just over from the ensuing cross. Indeed, use of the flanks by Leicester would prove to be a theme. Victor Lindelof as a stand-in right back proved an unhappy experience up against the excellent Harvey Barnes. And Albrighton and Justin would be a persistent thorn in his side.
With space aplenty for both sides and attacking ambition, either side might have opened the scoring. As it was, United did from a thrown in, Daniel James picking the ball up, cutting inside. His cross was decisively touched on by Ferandes, at impressive full stretch, to tee up Rashford on 23 minutes. This time he did not fail.
Rashford missed a great chance in the opening stages when he put his header over the bar after a great cross from Fernandes
The 23-year-old made no mistake with his second attempt as he netted his 50th Premier League goal of his career
Schmeichel made a fantastic one-handed save from Rashford on the hour mark with the United strike clean through on goal
Leicester though, having given as good as they got, were level seven minutes later. Fernandes in an unusual error gave the ball away in his own half, robbed by Wilfred N’Didi. Maddison helped it on to Barnes who unleashed an outstanding left-foot strike from outside the area to equalise.
And Leicester continued to threaten after the restart, Maddison’s free kick from 20 yards deflected over the bar. Barnes persisted in tormenting Lindelof – eventually injury would force the Swede to retire on 65 minutes, giving way to Alex Tuanzebe – but United created more chances on the counter attack.
Paul Pogba made his entrance on 53 minutes. On 59 minutes, Scott McTominay won the ball, found Fred, who fed a lovely ball through to Rashford. Clean through, he shaped to shoot as Schmeichel stood tall. Rashord the struck powerfully but the keeper saved well, pushing the ball wide.
Martial, generally ineffective, would put the ball in the net on 60 minutes, when fed by Rashford. He looked well offside and VAR would confirm as much but Schmeichel seemed to make minimum effort to save, apparently confident of the decision. Given the vagaries of VAR, that seemed bold.
United captain and former Leicester defender Harry Maguire headed over Luke Shaw’s free-kick in the 70th minute
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side missed the chance to leapfrog their opponents into second place but still have a game in-hand
Brendan Rodgers is still without a win against United as Leicester boss but his side remain above the Red Devils in the table
Maguire would then head over from Shaw’s free kick on 70 minutes.
But the introduction of Cavani on 75 minutes would add incision to United’s thurst. Eric Bailly played the through ball to the Uruguayan on 79 minutes but it was the centre forward’s quick feet and drive into Leicester territory which transformed the moment. Fernandes spotted a kindred spirt, made the run, received the pass and finished the move perfectly. An eleventh consecutive away win beckoned for United.
Yet Leicester deserved more and on 86 minutes got their reward, Ayoze Perez breaking down the right and crossing for Vardy, who drifted away from Bailly and turned the ball in off Tuanzebe’s legs for 2-2.
Sportsmail’s DAN RIPLEY provided live coverage of the clash at the King Power Stadium.
