Leicester City staged a late comeback on Sunday afternoon, scoring twice in the final five minutes to draw 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League, maintaining their unbeaten start under Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Despite several brilliant opportunities for both sides to start the scoring in the opening stages of the first half, it took until the 37th minute for the deadlock to be broken, when Tariq Lamptey curled a superb left-footed strike into the top left corner from just outside the box, giving Brighton the lead going into the break.
Leicester were dominant in the first 25 minutes from the restart as they sought to get back into the game, controlling plenty of possession in the opposition half, however, they were largely unable to create chances against Brighton's stern defence, with the visitors maintaining their lead heading into the final 20 minutes.
The Foxes seemed to run out of ideas as the clock ticked towards the final whistle, allowing Brighton to regain control, and the Seagulls doubled their lead with 10 minutes remaining as Yankuba Minteh chased down Mats Wieffer's long ball, twisted the Leicester defence inside and out, and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
Leicester, who looked out of the game after the second goal, instantly got their way back into the match when Bobby Decordova-Reid's effort from outside the area was blocked, with the deflection kindly spinning to the feet of Jamie Vardy inside the box, with the striker slotting a left-footed effort into the far corner to pull one back.
Just minutes later, the Foxes levelled out of nowhere as Brighton lost the ball deep in their half when Igor had possession snatched from him by Stephy Mavididi, with the forward playing the ball to Vardy inside the box, and the striker unselfishly squared it to Decordova-Reid, who placed it into the empty net in stoppage time.
Leicester looked to push for the dramatic winning goal as the game neared its final moments, but a shaky Brighton defence were able to hold out for the draw as the referee blew his final whistle, bringing an end to a superb game of football.
LEICESTER CITY VS. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION HIGHLIGHTS
Tariq Lamptey goal vs. Leicester City (37th min, Leicester City 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion)
© Imago
Brighton open the scoring in spectacular fashion, Lamptey with an absolute wondergoal!
Pervis Estupinan attempts to deliver a cross into the box from a wide position on the left, but his cross is overhit and it finds Lamptey on the other side of the pitch.
Lamptey takes a touch, cuts onto his left and curls an outstanding left-footed strike into the top left corner, a phenomenal strike to open the scoring.
Yankuba Minteh goal vs. Leicester City (79th min, Leicester City 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion)
© Imago
Minteh twists and turns and gives Brighton a second!
A long ball forward from Wieffer is chased down by Minteh, whose first touch allows Victor Kristiansen and the Leicester defence to get back inside the box.
Minteh is not put off though, twisting and turning before eventually creating space to curl a shot into the bottom left corner from inside the box to surely hand Brighton all three points.
Jamie Vardy goal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (86th min, Leicester City 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion)
© Imago
Leicester are right back in it, Vardy with the goal!
Decordova-Reid looks to take a shot from outside the box, but his effort is blocked, with the deflection spinning nicely into the path of Vardy.
The striker, in his usual clinical fashion, calmly slots the ball into the far corner with his left foot, a precise finish that gives Leicester a way back into the match.
Bobby Decordova-Reid goal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (91st min, Leicester City 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion)
© Imago
Leicester are level, Decordova-Reid the hero!
Mavididi steals the ball from Igor deep in the Brighton half and plays a pass through to Vardy, who looks set to shoot but instead squares the ball to Decordova-Reid, who calmly places it into the empty net to level the score for the hosts.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JAMIE VARDY
© Imago
Vardy was the catalyst in Leicester's remarkable late comeback, scoring the first and unselfishly assisting the second to ensure the Foxes remain unbeaten under Van Nistelrooy.
The striker's finish was classic Vardy, clinically placing a left-footed effort into the far corner to claw Leicester back into the match, while his reverse pass for Decordova-Reid's equaliser was a brilliant presentation of unselfishness.
Decordova-Reid must also be given a shoutout, scoring the equaliser and also forcing the deflection with his long-range effort that landed at Vardy's feet for the first goal.
LEICESTER CITY VS. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION MATCH STATS
Possession: Leicester City 55%-45% Brighton & Hove Albion
Shots: Leicester City 10-16 Brighton & Hove Albion
Shots on target: Leicester City 3-7 Brighton & Hove Albion
Corners: Leicester City 4-5 Brighton & Hove Albion
Fouls: Leicester City 9-10 Brighton & Hove Albion
BEST STATS
Tariq Lamptey has scored in the Premier League for the first time since the 1st November 2020 against Tottenham.⚽️#LEIBHA pic.twitter.com/yHmbd1LBXP
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) December 8, 2024
37 - Jamie Vardy is the second-oldest player to score and assist in a Premier League match (37y 332d v Brighton), only behind Ryan Giggs in December 2011 (38y 22d v Fulham). Timeless. pic.twitter.com/7jCN3QPDYu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 8, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
The draw for Leicester means they remain undefeated under Van Nistelrooy and lifts them to five points clear of the drop zone in 16th place, a gap they will aim to widen even further when they take on Newcastle United on Saturday.
As for Brighton, their winless run is extended to three matches as they suffer a late collapse to draw with Leicester, and they will aim to end that streak when they face rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Ellis Stevens
