Leicester City 2 Manchester United 2: Maguire snatches dramatic draw

Leicester City scored a dramatic late equaliser to hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw.

Published : Dec 24, 2017 09:51 IST

Harry Maguire popped up in the opposition box in second-half stoppage time to deny Man United two points.
Harry Maguire popped up in the opposition box in second-half stoppage time to deny Man United two points.
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Harry Maguire popped up in the opposition box in second-half stoppage time to deny Man United two points.

Harry Maguire produced a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to earn 10-man Leicester City a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, denting its opponents' already slim hopes of reeling in Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

United looked set to clinch all three points after two goals from Juan Mata had turned the match on its head following Jamie Vardy's 50th goal in the top-flight.

However, Maguire got on the end of a perfectly flighted Marc Albrighton cross from the left to direct a finish beyond David De Gea, leaving United 13 points adrift of City at the midway point.

Vardy combined with Riyad Mahrez to fire Leicester in front after 27 minutes, before Mata pulled United level five minutes from the break.

After showing great composure to net his first, Mata was equally cool when he floated a wonderful free-kick beyond Kasper Schmeichel on the hour.

Leicester's chances of restoring parity were dealt a blow when Daniel Amartey – on as a 57th-minute substitute – was sent off for a second bookable offence just 16 minutes later, but Maguire popped up with a leveller, capitalising on the injured Chris Smalling's lack of mobility, that sent the home fans into raptures.

Read: United being punished with Christmas fixtures, says Mourinho

United drew two early saves from Schmeichel as it made a bright start at the King Power Stadium.

Jesse Lingard's strike needed tipping over after taking a deflection off Leicester defender Harry Maguire, before Paul Pogba unleashed a low drive that was pounced upon by the Dane.

However, it was Leicester which broke the deadlock when Riyad Mahrez – holding the ball up well on the edge of the box after racing on to a long Wilfred Ndidi pass – waited for the run of Vardy before threading through a pass that was gratefully dispatched by the England striker. 

An ambitious effort from halfway by Pogba was both wayward and tracked all the way by a retreating Schmeichel, but Mata soon had United level with a well-worked equaliser.

Anthony Martial was afforded too much space on the left and his deflected cross was met in the box by Lingard, who teed up Mata to place an effort into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Christian Fuchs should have restored Leicester's lead early in the second half when, after Mahrez's dizzying feet had hypnotised Ashley Young down the right, he had a shot blocked by Victor Lindelof when he perhaps had more time to place his shot.

Fuchs, being a defender, could be forgiven for not having the sharpest of attacking instincts, but there could be no excuse for Martial moments later, when he blazed over after being played in by a wonderful Romelu Lukaku throughball.

When the next goal did arrive it was a beauty. Mata curled a delightful free-kick over the wall and just out of the reach of a diving Schmeichel, who reacted too late to make the stop.

Lingard placed a shot against the base of the left-hand upright following another superb Lukaku pass after 72 minutes, but Amartey's foolish double booking looked like ending Leicester hopes.

However, after both sides had penalty shouts turned down, Maguire met Albrighton's cross to guide the ball beyond De Gea, with United's defence carrying an injured Smalling for the crucial closing stages.

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