Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2
Manchester United’s 100% away record in the Premier League came to an end after Axel Tuanzebe’s late own goal secured a point for Leicester City.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited missed out on the chance to go second in the Premier League after their 100% league away record came to an end after they had opened the scoring for the first time away from Old Trafford this season.
The Reds surprisingly took the lead at the King Power Stadium through Marcus Rashford before Harvey Barnes levelled matters with a counter attacking goal minutes later.
With both sides counter attacking, the Reds had an Anthony Martial goal ruled out for offside before they retook the lead through Bruno Fernandes late in the second half only for Jamie Vardy to pop up and force an equaliser off Tuanzebe.
The Reds had to be content with a point which kept them in third place – a point clear of Everton in fourth.
“One point is not the worst result.” admitted Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who added that Victor Lindelof had suffered a recurrence of the back problems that have been troubling him this season.
There was just one change from the Leeds game last Sunday – with Eric Bailly coming in and Aaron Wan-Bissaka left out as United deployed Victor Lindelof at right back at Leicester City after beating Everton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
And Marcus Rashford contrived to miss a free header from six yards out after a delicious Bruno Fernandes cross as both sides started quickly.
Vardy was allowed a handful of chances early on by United’s confused defence – he was also flagged offside after he thought he was clean through – as United struggled to contain the Foxes who tried to exploit Lindelof’s unfamiliar role.
United’s defensive wobbles were underlined by what looked like a back injury to David De Gea after he was bailed out by Fred following a poor first touch of a back pass.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took this seriously and sent Dean Henderson out to warm up.
Rashford eventually got his goal in the 23rd minute when they overcame the Leicester defence with a fortuitous touch by Fernandes which deflected a square pass by Daniel James into the path of Rashford to hit his 13th goal this term from 12 yards out.
It was Rashford’s 50th Premier League goal for the Reds, making Rashford the third youngest United player to reach that milestone (at the age of 23 years and 56 days) after Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
It was soon cancelled out by Harvey Barnes in the 31st minute when the England winger created space for himself and shot low from 20 yards to beat a sluggish De Gea after Fernandes had lost the ball.
It was the 7th goal of the season for the youngster – already equalling his tally from the 2019/20 season.
Fernandes almost atoned for his error after he headed over the bar from Luke Shaw’s cross in the 37th minute as the Foxes looked vulnerable to the counter attack.
United were still dangerous on the break and Wesley Fofana was excellent in stopping one such break after the restart when United were 2 on 1.
Eric Bailly was caught out for handball from Fred while pointing his hand and telling his team mate to pass elsewhere, giving Leicester a free kick 20 yards out and James Maddison’s free kick was blocked by Rashford in the wall.
Substitutes change the game for both sides
With the Reds losing the midfield creativity battle Paul Pogba was brought on for James after 54 minutes and things started to change for United.
Rashford found himself clean through but his shot was saved one handed by Kasper Schmeichel.
Martial was also offside after another pinpoint pass came up from midfield shortly after the hour mark – the Frenchman finished with aplomb but it was immediately ruled out for offside and ratified by VAR.
But the Foxes were not short of tricks, and Barnes and Vardy combined down the left to send in a cross which was too far in front of Maddison and Shaw cleared the ball.
Lindelof was replaced by Axel Tuanzebe after 66 minutes with a back issue flaring up.
Harry Maguire headed a cross by Shaw over the bar before United made their final change with Edinson Cavani coming on for Martial.
And the Uruguayan made an instant impact, he picked out Fernandes with a through ball that the Portuguese drilled home inside the back post with 11 minutes to go – his 14th goal of the season.
Ayoze Perez came on for Marc Albrighton as Leicester had to react and Jamie Vardy levelled up scores again five minutes from the end when he met Perez’ cross with an instinctive finish from 10 yards.
Vardy admitted afterwards that his shot was off target until the luckless Axel Tuanzebe’s deflection took it past De Gea and the Goal Accreditation Panel confirmed this shortly after the game.
Perez could only put wide from an offside position after Youri Tielemens had put in a ball into the six yard box in injury time as Reds hearts went in mouths but both sides had to make do with a point.
GOALS – Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2
Leicester City 0, Man Utd 1: 23. Marcus Rashford was presented by the ball after Bruno Fernandes’ touch diverted Daniel James’ square pass into the path of the striker who made no mistake with a low strike into the corner from 12 yards out.
Leicester City 1, Man Utd 1: 31. It was soon cancelled out by Harvey Barnes in the 31st minute when the England winger created space for himself and shot low from 20 yards to beat a sluggish De Gea after Fernandes had lost the ball.
Leicester City 1, Man Utd 2: 79. Edinson Cavani came off the bench and laid on a goal for Bruno Fernandes who timed his run well and slotted the ball inside the back post from 8 yards out.
Leicester City 2, Man Utd 2: 85. Jamie Vardy’s movement was excellent as he found space to drill substitute Ayoze Perez’s cross into the United goal from 10 yards out via a thick deflection off Axel Tuanzebe. It was credited as an own goal by the Goal Accreditation Panel.
MATCH STATS – Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Justin, Fofana, Evans, Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemens, Albrighton (Perez 81), Maddison, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy
Leicester City subs not used: Ward, Iheanacho, Amartey, Choudhury, Mendy, Praet, Fuchs, Thomas
Booked: Maddison 54 (foul on Bruno Fernandes); Ndidi
Goals: Barnes 31; Tuanzebe og 85
Man Utd: De Gea, Lindelof (Tuanzebe 66), Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, James (Pogba 54), Fernandes, Rashford, Martial (Cavani 75)
Man Utd subs not used: Henderson, Greenwood, Lingard, Telles, Matic, van de Beek
Booked: Fernandes 45+1 (foul on Jonny Evans)
Goals: Rashford 23; Fernandes 79
Referee: Mike Dean