Leicester v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after Vardy secures draw as Bentancur injured
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham: The veteran striker popped up in the second half to secure the hosts a point
Jamie Vardy marked Leicester’s return to the Premier League with a goal as the hosts secured an unlikely point against Tottenham Hotspur.
Captain Vardy had not been expected to feature in the opening fixture of his side’s top-flight comeback having missed most of the preseason due to injury, but was deemed fit enough to start with Steve Cooper lacking in alternative forward options. And it had to be him to produce a magic moment: Spurs had dominated the entirety of the contest unti the veteran striker headed home a second half equaliser totally against the run of play, Vardy directing Abdul Fatawu’s cross into the corner to secure a 1-1 draw.
Tottenham had appeared to have been cruising to an opening weekend win after Pedro Porro capitalised on their sustained pressure with a flicked first-half finish. With James Maddison sparkling on his return to his former club, the floodgates appeared likely to open thereafter, but a series of squandered chances from new recruit Dominic Solanke and the rest of the Spurs’ forward line left Leicester in touch, allowing Vardy to pop up and spark a King Power Stadium party again.
There was a worrying moment late on as Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur appeared to be knocked out in a clash of heads. After several minutes of treatment, the Uruguayan was sitting up and talking in the Tottenham dressing room after being carried off on a stretcher, and will continue to be monitored in line with concussion protocols.
Re-live all the action from the King Power Stadium below:
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 90 minutes
It takes the Tottenham bench an age to ready a replacement for Pedro Porro, who is forced to take a throw-in even as he limps around with the gait of a octogenarian fresh from a hip replacement.
Nine added minutes after that long delay.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 88 minutes
Pedro Porro is hobbling around in real discomfort as his Tottenham teammates try, and fail, to breakdown the Leicester defensive structure.
Rodrigo Bentancur is up and talking, Sky Spors report, in better news for the Spurs bench.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 86 minutes
McAteer’s first involvement is almost perfect, beating Cristian Romero to a header and looping it back across goal. It threatens to dip beneath the crossbar as Guglielmo Vicario scrambles, but has just enough amplitude to clear the woodwork, much to the goalkeeper’s relief.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 85 minutes
Change number three for Leicester: Bobby Decordova-Reid is replaced by Kasey McAteer.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 84 minutes
That break, unfortunate though it was, seems to have done Tottenham some good. More pretty patterns around the Leicester box afford Bergvall a shooting chance, and his deflected effort loops into the hands of Mads Hermansen.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 83 minutes
Intricate football from Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski very nearly sets up Dominic Solanke for a chance. Lucas Bergvall’s corner is relatively menacing, too, though it is a Leicester head that meets it.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 80 minutes
So a delay of just short of ten minutes, in all, after that Rodrigo Bentancur injury, setting up a 20-minute final stanza. Can Spurs reset? Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both 18, now make-up their midfield two, with Dejan Kulusevski just off Dominic Solanke.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 79 minutes
Steve Cooper makes a double switch. Jamie Vardy departs with a word or seven for the Tottenham players and fans, ever competitive even with his night over. Facundo Buonanotte is also replaced: Boubakary Soumare and Stephy Mavididi bring fresh legs to the forward line.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 78 minutes
Four Tottenham changes: Bentancur, Pape Sarr, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson are replaced by Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski and Timo Werner.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham, 77 minutes
Bentancur is able to sit up with the help of the medical staff, and considers briefly getting to his feet, before being draped on a stretched and helped off. Tottenham will use a concussion substitute to replace the midfielder, as they are now empowered to in the laws. Leicester will get an extra change, too, with both managers waiting to use their benches.
An ovation as Bentancur departs.
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