The funny thing is that Jamie Vardy was not scheduled to appear in Leicester City 1-1 Tottenham. He hadn’t played since limping out of a pre-season friendly against Villarreal a month earlier with a knee injury, but he agreed to participate since Leicester were desperate for attacking options. If this game had not marked the Premier League’s comeback, he would have missed out. Vardy, who turns 38 in January, had made an indelible mark by the end, confirming his status as one of the game’s most consistent goalscorers and one of the most iconic pantomime villains.
Jamie Vardy Impact: A Memorable Equalizer
Vardy applauded Leicester fans, puffed out his chest, and blew kisses to the crowd after surprising Tottenham with an improbable equalizer near the hour mark. However, his passionate exchange with Spurs fans in a small corner of the stadium following his substitution overshadowed his celebration. Vardy took joy in pointing to the Premier League badge on the forearm of his shirt, a tribute to Leicester’s remarkable title success in 2016. To emphasize the point, he stated unequivocally that Leicester was ahead 1-0 in that area.
Leicester Resilience: Tottenham Missed Opportunities
The Premier League is back, and so are the Spurs, who managed to get a point out of a game that they should have easily won twice. Rodrigo Bentancur departed the pitch on a stretcher after five minutes of treatment after clashing heads with Abdul Fatawu. Leicester had only one touch in Tottenham’s 18-yard box in the first half, a forgettable pass from Bobby Decordova-Reid, and their only effort was a wayward Hollywood try to lob Guglielmo Vicario from 40 yards.
Spurs Take the Lead: Porro’s Surprise Header
The hosts trailed to Pedro Porro’s header, but Spurs debutants Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson missed opportunities to double the lead. In the end, Leicester could have won, with Vicario expertly denying Vardy and then Wilfred Ndidi, whose header he pushed around the post. Vicario went crazy at substitute Lucas Bergvall, who cheaply gave up possession, allowing Leicester to create an opening in the first nine minutes of second-half stoppage time. Richarlison, Tottenham’s No. 9, had the game’s final chance, heading over unmarked after avoiding Victor Kristiansen.
Tottenham Dominance in the First Half
When Spurs took the lead in the 29th minute, the only surprise was the goalscorer, right-back Porro, who turned away after glancing at James Maddison’s superb cross. Maddison faced his previous team for the first time since leaving last summer. He initiated the move halfway, passing Son Heung-min with the outside of his boot. Maddison resumed his run, waiting for Son’s return. With a single flick of the right foot, Maddison sent a terrific cross, and an alert Porro rippled the net with a smart header.
Leicester Fightback: A Dramatic Second Half
Leicester breathed a sigh of relief that they weren’t further behind; Spurs controlled over 70% of possession, made twice as many passes, and had a seven-to-nil shot advantage. Ndidi made an acrobatic goalline clearance after Bentancur glanced Maddison’s corner to the front post, and Solanke headed straight at Mads Hermansen. Maddison later attempted to find Solanke after Spurs moved the ball from front to back between Bentancur and Pape Sarr, but Leicester centre-back Wout Faes did just enough, getting close to his man.
Critical Moments: Bentancur’s Injury and Spurs Substitutions
Facundo Buonanotte, who is on loan, shone as Leicester’s brightest spark in the first half, but Tottenham completely outplayed them. Buonanotte nutmegged Sarr on the midway and clipped a lovely pass to Decordova-Reid after whirling free from a throw-in, but these were minor details. The Spurs were dominating the game.
Or they were until the 57th minute when something unexpected happened: Leicester managed their first shot on goal and only their second of the game. Kristiansen, who spent last season on loan at Bologna, fired a cross across the box, which Fatawu received on the opposite flank. Fatawu saw Vardy lurking behind Cristian Romero, and the striker nodded in unmarked. To the surprise of almost everyone inside the stadium, Leicester were level.
Solanke had stung Hermansen’s palms just a few minutes before. Spurs had been having a good time, with Maddison playing with his former team, but they were suddenly vulnerable. Bentancur was booked for harshly thwarting a Leicester counter-attack after Maddison overplayed on the edge of the area. Ndidi attempted a shot against the side net. In the 70th minute, Buonanotte set up Vardy for a one-on-one with Vicario, but he lacked the power to overcome the Spurs goalkeeper. Vardy kicked the air in frustration.
Conclusion: A Hard-Fought Draw Between Leicester and Tottenham
Spurs were making substitutions before Bentancur fell down in the box. Both teams were upset, but after five minutes of treatment, the Uruguay midfielder was carried off the pitch on a stretcher. Archie Grey and Bergvall made their debuts, and Dejan Kulusevski replaced Maddison, who received applause from all four sides of the stadium. There were more cheers than jeers. Vardy is unlikely to receive a similar reaction at Tottenham in January.
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