By Jamie Vardy’s late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for Leicester against Tottenham in their Premier League opener, despite the visitors’ dominant performance. Tottenham had taken the lead through Pedro Porro’s well-placed shot following a cross from James Maddison. However, Leicester, who had been under pressure for most of the game, found an equalizer in the second half when Vardy headed in from an Abdul Fatawu cross.
Vardy’s inclusion in the lineup was unexpected, as he had missed all of Leicester’s pre-season matches and was not anticipated to start. However, with no other senior strikers available, Vardy assured manager Steve Cooper he was fit to play. This decision paid off as the 37-year-old forward made the most of Leicester’s first significant chance of the match.
Tottenham controlled the majority of the game, especially in the first half, where they dominated possession and limited Leicester to only one shot. Despite their control, they failed to extend their lead, with £65 million summer signing Dominic Solanke missing several opportunities to secure a win.
Tottenham’s woes were compounded when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off after a lengthy stoppage, leaving them to reflect on how they let their first-half dominance slip away.
Jamie Carragher criticized Tottenham’s inability to secure a victory, calling their failure to capitalize on their dominance “criminal,” especially against a newly promoted team like Leicester. Both Carragher and Gary Neville praised Vardy for his performance and longevity in the Premier League, with Carragher suggesting that Vardy could be considered Leicester’s greatest-ever player. Neville noted that despite being 37, Vardy still retains his pace and fitness, a testament to his enduring quality as a striker.
