Leicester City came away with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in their Premier League opener, thanks to Jamie Vardy’s goal against the run of play. Vardy’s strike salvaged a point for the Foxes after Pedro Porro had given Spurs the lead earlier in the match.
The veteran striker, who had not played during Leicester’s pre-season, proved his fitness to manager Steve Cooper when the team was left without a senior striker following Patson Daka’s injury. “We didn’t have a striker,” Cooper explained to Sky Sports before the game. “He said he felt good and wanted to make himself available.” Vardy’s decision paid off as he scored from Leicester’s first real chance 12 minutes into the second half, tapping in a fine cross from Abdul Fatawu.
Up until that point, Tottenham had been in complete control, dominating possession and limiting Leicester to just one shot in the first half. They took the lead through a well-placed strike from Porro following a precise cross from James Maddison. However, lacking a second goal cushion and with £65 million summer signing Dominic Solanke missing several opportunities, Spurs were punished by Vardy’s equalizer. The experienced forward could have added a second goal if it weren’t for a sprawling save by Guglielmo Vicario.
Spurs’ Decline and Carragher’s Critique
Tottenham’s situation worsened when Rodrigo Bentancur was stretchered off due to injury after an eight-minute stoppage, leaving them with a draw they hadn’t anticipated. Jamie Carragher labeled their failure to secure a win as “criminal,” highlighting how they squandered their dominant first-half performance. “They were so in control of that game,” he remarked on Monday Night Football. “Ange Postecoglou has returned Tottenham to a style we associate with them—attacking play that looks good. But they could easily let you down and concede a goal.”
Vardy’s Legacy
Both Carragher and Gary Neville praised Vardy’s resilience and ability to perform at a high level, noting that he scored on the opening weekend of the Premier League season for the eighth time. Vardy is the division’s all-time top scorer among players in their 30s, boasting 19 more goals than Alan Shearer, the league’s leading scorer.
Neville reflected, “I was a fan of Vardy when he first entered the Premier League. He was a non-League player with a throwback mentality. I initially thought he would depend entirely on his pace, but he continues to excel at 37, looking fit and agile.”
Carragher added, “He’s got to be near the top as Leicester’s greatest-ever player when you think about his achievements and journey. He truly is a special footballer.”
With this season off to a solid start, Leicester City will look to build on their performance and find consistency as they aim for a successful campaign.
Credit: Sky Sports
