Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City started the Premier League season with a 1-1 draw. Veteran, Jamie Vardy, gave a nostalgic performance as he continued to haunt Tottenham and ensured that Leicester did not lose their Premier League opener. Pedro Porro’s header in the 29th minute gave Spurs a lead at half time after dominating most of the first half at the King Power Stadium.
The narrative changed after half-time with Vardy capitalising on poor defensive manoeuvres by Tottenham to level the game in the 57th minute. This turn of events provided new manager Steve Cooper with his first point in charge. The game experienced a significant delay in the second half as Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham was stretchered off due to a head injury. Despite an additional nine minutes of stoppage time, the match ended without a winner.
Before the match begun, a tribute was held to honour the memory of late former manager and assistant Craig Shakespeare of Leicester, with applause echoing around the stadium even before the announcer prompted. The freshly promoted Foxes, now led by Cooper, were buoyed by the unexpected comeback of 37-year-old Vardy. However, his usual co-conspirator James Maddison, was met with jeers from home supporters. Oliver Skipp had transferred to Leicester from Tottenham just before the match and he watched his previous team perform well.
The match also featured Bentancur, standing in for the suspended Yves Bissouma, whose header was thwarted by Wilfred Ndidi. Additional opportunities included Brennan Johnson’s volley saved by Mads Hermansen and Dominic Solanke, Tottenham’s new £65 million forward, who squandered an early chance. Despite these missed opportunities, Tottenham managed to score the first goal courtesy of Pedro Porro’s header in the 29th minute, following a brilliant set up by Maddison.
Johnson made yet another attempt, missing the mark before the hosts took their initial shot. Guglielmo Vicario darted out timely to prevent Vardy’s effort, though Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s maiden long-distance strike went glaringly off target.
At the onset of the subsequent half, Pape Sarr valiantly repulsed De Cordova-Reid, who was deemed to be offside. The game seemed to settle down into its routine rhythm thereafter.
Hermansen skilfully managed to save Solanke’s forceful attempt whereas Bentancur too managed a shot at Foxes’ goalkeeper following a smooth move. Tottenham’s inefficiencies were rebuked by their familiar adversary in the 57th minute.
Abdul Fatawu curated an opportunity for the unmarked Vardy, looping a ball across Tottenham’s goal, for Vardy to comfortably head it into the net from the far post. It was Vardy’s ninth successful attempt against Tottenham and his 137th in the Premier League which instantaneously positioned Leicester as a force to reckon with.
Ndidi made a shot that went into the side-netting and then Vardy almost made it through after a swift pass from Facundo Buonanotte, but his effort was excellently denied by a fantastic low save from Vicario.
The game experienced a significant delay when Bentancur fell down at a corner and required treatment for a considerable amount of time, finally being carried off the field on a stretcher with an oxygen mask.
Despite further attempts being made, Vicario managed to save Ndidi’s header. Spurs’ replacement player Richarlison made an attempt but missed, concluding the game with the score being level.