Leicester City 2-2 Man United: Harry Maguire strikes late

They may go through the managers at Leicester City, but there is trademark style and this team were set up in classic 2015-16 formation, ready to spring on the break. Right from the off Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray looked sharp and United looked tentative: just the way Leicester like it.

When the goal came on 27 minutes it was a thing of rare beauty, starting with the sheer coolness of Harry Maguire, under pressure in his own box, finding Christian Fuchs with a calm right-angled pass. One hoof and the moment would have been gone. Fuchs fed the midfield who found Wilfred Ndidi who in turn saw the huge space United had allowed Riyad Mahrez and played in his team-mate with a delightful pass.

Mahrez in this mood is some player. He chased the ball down, slightly over-ran himself and appeared to have missed the chance as Chris Smalling got back. But then, exquisitely, he simply slowed everything down in his head and waited a split second for Jamie Vardy to join him. Smalling’s team-mates weren’t as assiduous as he had been so Vardy had a free run to join Mahrez. As Smalling hesitated, his brain seemingly scrambled by Mahrez’s sheer poise, the Algerian rolled the ball into Vardy’s path, who naturally scored with his first touch.

United though had their own more considered attacking threat and responded on 38 minutes with a precise passing move involving Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata working the Anthony Martial. The Frenchman’s cross was deflected to Jesse Lingard who deftly touched it back to Mata who shot through a phalanx of players to equalise.

Given the early chances United had fashioned with Lingard and Pogba testing Kasper Schmeichel from long range, they probably merited the equaliser but still looked unsure at the back. Vardy’s clever chipped free kick beat their back line just before half time and Maguire, ghosting in behind, couldn’t quite control the ball as it ran away from him with just David De Gea to beat. Come the break, Leicester were quietly satisfied. Despite conceding, they looked amply able to worry United again in the second period.

Leicester’s best chance to regain the lead came on 52 minutes, Mahrez again toying with United and teasting in a cross. But Gray couldn’t quite connect, missing a superb opportunity as Christian Fuchs raced in at the far post only to see his shot blocked.

But United had an even better opening two minutes later as Romelu Lukaku made his presence felt by finding Martial in time and space with just Schmeichel to beat. But the Frenchman snatched at his shot lifting it wastefully over to ironic cheers from the Leicester fans.

On the hour, United’s moment came and it was Mata again, playing superbly, who provided. Sizing up a free kick twenty yards out, he simply lifted the ball over a jumping defensive wall and managed to provide enough deftness to see it drop into the far corner of the net beyond a despairing Schmeichel. It was a lovely free kick.

United were now in their stride, their supporters cheerily vocal in their corner of the stadium as Pogba and Matic began to swagger somewhat in midfield, their grip on the game reasserted.

Yet they missed an extraordinary opportunity to secure the points. Lukaku advanced and then played a perfectly-timed pass for the onrushing Lingard, who took the ball in his stride and feinted past Schmeichel. The goal beckoned and though one defender loomed large it was the simplest of chances yet he contrived to hit the post.

Still, United remained in control thanks to the indiscipline of Daniel Amartey. He came on for Vicente Iborra on 57 minutes; he picked up his first booking for a clip at Ashley Young on 69 minutes; he then picked up his second booking and departed for a crude block on Marcus Rashford on 78 minutes. It presumably wasn’t the contribution Claude Puel had in mind.

Harry Maguire hit a 94th-minute equaliser as 10-man Leicester City stunned Man United to nick a 2-2 draw at the King Power

Maguire arrived at the far post to confidently shot past David De Gea, who watched on in horror as the ball crossed the line

Maguire arrived at the far post to confidently shot past David De Gea, who watched on in horror as the ball crossed the line

Juan Mata had earlier scored twice to put United on course for three precious Premier League points 

Juan Mata had earlier scored twice to put United on course for three precious Premier League points 

Leicester went ahead when striker Jamie Vardy slid a shot past David De Gea for his nine goal of the season in all competitions

Leicester went ahead when striker Jamie Vardy slid a shot past David De Gea for his nine goal of the season in all competitions

But the Red Devils were level before half time as Spanish midfielder Mata equalised with a controlled left-foot finish

But the Red Devils were level before half time as Spanish midfielder Mata equalised with a controlled left-foot finish

 Mata then completed the turnaround with a direct free kick on the hour mark, after Anthony Martial had been fouled

 Mata then completed the turnaround with a direct free kick on the hour mark, after Anthony Martial had been fouled

Leicester ended the contest with 10 men after second-half substitute Daniel Amartey picked up two quick yellow cards

Leicester ended the contest with 10 men after second-half substitute Daniel Amartey picked up two quick yellow cards

The Premier League game was a sell-out at the King Power Stadium and Leicester provided every home fan with a festive  hat

The Premier League game was a sell-out at the King Power Stadium and Leicester provided every home fan with a festive hat

Father Christmas was also in attendance to watch what was both Leicester and United's final fixture before December 25

Father Christmas was also in attendance to watch what was both Leicester and United’s final fixture before December 25

United goalkeeper De Gea did not appear to be in the Christmas spirit after conceding the game's opening goal on 27 minutes

United goalkeeper De Gea did not appear to be in the Christmas spirit after conceding the game’s opening goal on 27 minutes

French midfielder Paul Pogba looked equally frustrated as Leicester's players celebrated Vardy's first-half strike behind him

French midfielder Paul Pogba looked equally frustrated as Leicester’s players celebrated Vardy’s first-half strike behind him

Vardy's goal was assisted by Riyad Mahrez, who chased a through ball, held off Chris Smalling (right) and played a neat pass

Vardy’s goal was assisted by Riyad Mahrez, who chased a through ball, held off Chris Smalling (right) and played a neat pass

Mahrez's contribution was acknowledged by Vardy, who hugged the Algerian ace during a group Leicester goal celebration

Mahrez’s contribution was acknowledged by Vardy, who hugged the Algerian ace during a group Leicester goal celebration

In the King Power crowd, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus celebrated Vardy's goal, but their joy was short-lived

In the King Power crowd, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus celebrated Vardy’s goal, but their joy was short-lived

Mata hit back for United within less than a quarter of an hour — scoring his third goal in four games against Leicester 

Mata hit back for United within less than a quarter of an hour — scoring his third goal in four games against Leicester 

Swedish centre back Victor Lindelof congratulated Mata, who was making his 12th Premier League start of the season

Swedish centre back Victor Lindelof congratulated Mata, who was making his 12th Premier League start of the season

United manager Jose Mourinho (right) watched on concerned as Leicester continued to test his team despite Mata's leveller

United manager Jose Mourinho (right) watched on concerned as Leicester continued to test his team despite Mata’s leveller

Christian Fuchs was presented with a great chance to put Leicester 2-1 up, but his drilled effort was blocked on the line

Christian Fuchs was presented with a great chance to put Leicester 2-1 up, but his drilled effort was blocked on the line

United broke up the other end where Martial fired over the bar after a fine pass from Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku

United broke up the other end where Martial fired over the bar after a fine pass from Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku

Mata made up for Martial's miss by scoring his second goal of the night — his fourth in as many games against the Foxes

Mata made up for Martial’s miss by scoring his second goal of the night — his fourth in as many games against the Foxes

Former Chelsea and Valencia playmaker Mata found the net with a well-hit free kick which whizzed past Kasper Schmeichel

Former Chelsea and Valencia playmaker Mata found the net with a well-hit free kick which whizzed past Kasper Schmeichel

Mata celebrated in front of a television camera as team-mates Ashley Young (centre) and Jesse Lingard (right) followed him

Mata celebrated in front of a television camera as team-mates Ashley Young (centre) and Jesse Lingard (right) followed him

Leicester's hopes of a fightback were dampened when Ghanaian Amartey left the field less than 20 minutes after coming on

Leicester’s hopes of a fightback were dampened when Ghanaian Amartey left the field less than 20 minutes after coming on

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk