- Leeds United hosted Leicester City at Elland Road in a relegation battle on Tuesday night
- Both teams needed the points in the fight to stay in the Premier League and avoid relegation
- Leeds scored first but the Foxes has to wait until the last 10 minutes of the match for an equaliser
Jamie Vardy scored a late equalizer to earn Leicester City a point against relegation rivals Leeds United in the Premier League.
Luis Sinisterra gave Leeds the lead at the break, but Leicester were rewarded for their second-half pressure when Vardy equalized with 10 minutes remaining.
Patrick Bamford had a golden chance to win the game for Leeds in the final minute, missing from a yard out at the back post, which might cost the Yorkshire club towards the end of the season.
Leeds remains 16th in the table, one point and a spot above 17th-placed Leicester, who are one point above the bottom three – all of whom have six games remaining to Leeds’ five.
Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring the equalizer against Leeds United in a Premier League clash on Tuesday, April 25 2023. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |
Leicester were celebrating in the seventh minute when Youri Tielemans sent a 25-yard shot into the top corner, but VAR determined that Boubakary Soumare was offside.
Leeds fans erupted as if their team had scored, only for the silence to return as James Maddison was inches away from connecting with Kelechi Iheanacho’s cross.
Leeds had had a promising start but failed to create a clear-cut chance until the 20th minute when they seized the lead with their first shot on goal.
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Sinisterra scored his fifth league goal of the season with a powerful downward header after Jack Harrison fooled his way into space on the right and delivered a superb cross to the far post.
After limping off in the 32nd minute, Sinisterra was replaced by Crysencio Summerville and a tense first half – both Leeds players Luke Ayling and Rodrigo were booked – ended without further goalmouth action.
With so much at stake for two struggling teams, it was not a pretty night of football, but both were fighting hard.
Caglar Soyuncu saved Patrick Bamford’s attempt early in the second half, and Rodrigo nearly wriggled clear in the area, but Leicester then had their best run.
Leeds were put on the back foot by Leicester. For the hosts, Marc Roca and subsequently Liam Cooper were both booked, the latter for a desperate challenge on Iheanacho on the edge of the box.
Leicester’s Soumare and Tielemans were also booked, but the visitors gained momentum, with Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier twice thwarting Iheanacho to retain his side’s slim lead.
In the 80th minute, the visitors’ pressure paid off. Cooper brought down Iheanacho on the edge of the box, but the ball broke to Maddison, who slid in Vardy, who finished into the bottom corner.
As the Foxes tried for the kill, Vardy had another shot ruled out for offside by VAR, but it was Leeds who came close to winning.
Marc Roca’s last-minute flick-on pushed Leicester goalkeeper Daniel Iversen into a great save before Victor Kristiansen kicked the ball off the goal line.
After the ball had landed for him at the back post, Bamford somehow blazed wide from the subsequent corner, and the points were shared.
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