Leicester City 1 Manchester United 1
Jamie Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s scoring record but Leicester had to settle for a draw against Manchester United despite yet another thrilling display from Claudio Ranieri’s side.
Vardy became the first player to score in 11 straight Premier League matches — beating Van Nistelrooy’s record from 2003 — when he stroked home Christian Fuchs’ slide-rule pass.
The Foxes blitzed United with wave after wave of attack in search of a second goal, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Bastian Schweinsteiger headed home an equaliser in first-half injury time.
The draw meant Leicester were unable to reclaim top spot, but Ranieri will not be too disheartened. Although they failed to grab all three points, this performance showed they are capable of challenging for a top-four place at the end of the season. And it probably put a million or two on Vardy’s value too.
In front of England manager Roy Hodgson, he was simply excellent again. Hodgson’s captain Wayne Rooney, on the other hand, was substituted in the 68th minute after another poor display. He was not the only struggling performer in red. United lacked pace, energy and ideas and although they improved in the second half, they should consider themselves lucky to escape with a point.
A rousing build-up which involved a trumpet, some raucous chanting, and a re-run of the highlights from last year’s 5-3 win in the corresponding fixture, whipped the home support into a frenzy.
The Leicester players were up for the occasion too, none so more than Vardy. The striker hunted every red shirt he saw from the first whistle. Michael Carrick carelessly passed the ball to Vardy deep inside the Leicester half, but he squared to Ngolo Kante and his deflected shot flew wide. United’s defence was creaking under pressure. Ashley Young entered the book for a cynical foul that prevented the vibrant Riyad Mahrez from breaking away. Mahrez was fouled three times in the opening half. United could simply not deal with the winger’s pace.
The visitors, in contrast, offered little. Rooney had two lame attempts at goal and that was it in the opening stages. Leicester were well on top and it came as no surprise when they scored. The name of the goalscorer was just as unsurprising.
As soon as Vardy lost Young and raced on to Fuchs’ pass, there was only ever going to be one outcome. The 28-year-old kept his composure and struck the ball past David de Gea with confidence before being mobbed by his team-mates.
It was nothing more than Leicester deserved. Leicester fans taunted the travelling support. “Louis van Gaal, he sends you to sleep” they chanted with glee. The United supporters would have been forgiven for nodding off or making an early departure for the M6. Their team were producing absolutely nothing while Leicester were threatening to run riot.
Mahrez went close twice while Rooney fell too easily looking for a penalty. Then, all of a sudden, United were somehow level. Danny Drinkwater gave away a corner and Daley Blind whipped in the cross which Schweinsteiger nodded in. The German almost put United ahead after the break with another close-range header, but Kasper Schmeichel saved.
With Vardy tiring, Leicester were unable to maintain the momentum they had before the break. They still looked the more threatening side, however. Kante broke and found substitute Leonardo Ulloa, but De Gea saved to keep United in it.
Then, with 22 minutes left Van Gaal put Rooney out of his misery and replaced him with Memphis Depay. The Dutchman had a superb chance to nick it at the death but he blazed over.
“I am obviously delighted, but the main thing was the performance,” Vardy said after the game.
“I think we put in a very good shift in today and in the end a point was probably a fair result.”
Being shown a replay of his goal, the Leicester striker told Sky Sports: “Obviously we’ve got a lot of pace in the team and I think counter-attacking is a big advantage for us.
“If we can break as quick we have, then obviously it is going to benefit the team.
“It’s unbelievable. I think I got a bit carried away with myself (during the celebrations).”
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri hailed Vardy’s “incredible achievement” after the 1-1 draw.
“It was an amazing match,” he said.
“It was very difficult because United are a very good team. They keep possession of the ball very, very well.
“But I think we made a very good, tactical match and were very good concentrated because at the first mistake they can score a goal.
“We conceded a goal at the end of the first half — it was not so good, but that’s football.
“I am very happy because before the match I said to my players we had two objectives today: one - win the match and two - try to help Vardy score and achieve the record.
“We take one point which is good for our table and Jamie made the record. It is fantastic for us, a very good evening.”
