A Harry Maguire late goal denied Manchester United three points as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Leicester City at the King Power stadium. Jamie Vardy put the home side ahead in the 27th minutes, after a devastating counter-attacking move. But Juan Mata equalised for United just before the break.
The Red Devils doubled their advantage after the break through a sublime Mata effort, before Maguire rescued a point for the hosts with a stoppage time effort.
90+4' – Goal. Leicester 2 #MUFC 2. Maguire scores. #LEIMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 23, 2017
United manager, Jose Mourinho, was critical of his side, and believes they had enough in them to have won, and was left to rue his their missed opportunities.
“We didn’t win because we missed incredible chances,” Mourinho said. “I would say joke chances. We made a big defensive accumulation of mistakes in an easy match to win. I talked to the players at half-time when it was 1-1 that it was an easy match to win.”
After their defeat in midweek to Bristol City in the league cup, United were looking to bounce back to winning ways especially with rivals, City, having won their game earlier on.
However, it wasn’t the best of starts as the Red Devils found themselves behind courtesy of a Vardy goal in the 27th minute, after a brilliant counter-attacking move.
United were in control though, even before the goal and responded to going when Mata equalised just before half time.
Whatever Mourinho told his side at the break looked to be working as a sublime effort from Mata put them ahead for the first time in the match.
It went from bad to worse for the hosts as they were later reduced to ten men following Daniel Amartey’s dismissal for two yellow card offences in the space of four second half minutes.
The visitors, however, failed to make their numerical advantage count, as they were unable to kill off the game despite chances to do so thereafter.
First, Jesse Lingard missed an open post, before Marcus Rashford also made a mess of a Paul Pogba through ball with ten minutes left to play.
United were made to pay for their profligacy, as Maguire snatched a point at the dead for the Foxes after meeting an excellent cross from Marc Albrighton.
It ended 1-1, a huge blow to United’s aspiration of catching up with runaway league leaders, Man City, whose lead at the top now stands at 13points.
At Turf Moor, Tottenham proved too hot to handle for their hosts, Burnley, as Harry Kane scored a hattrick in their 3-0 win over the Clarets.
“It was an important victory,” Pochettino said. “The team played very well from the beginning in a very difficult place to play.”
This guy… ???#OneOfOurOwn pic.twitter.com/bcUN7JeJVs
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 23, 2017
It was Spurs’ away win in their last five attempts, and sees them win two consecutive games at Turf Moor for the first time in 92years.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side started the day seventh on the log, but with that win have now moved up to fifth, just a point behind Liverpool, who are fourth.
