Leicester vs. Tottenham: Score and Reaction from 2015 Premier League Match
Leicester City picked up a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday to once again take them to the top of the Premier League table.
Substitute Dele Alli put the visitors ahead after 81 minutes, but Leicester hit back immediately through the impressive Riyad Mahrez. The Foxes have at least temporarily topped the table after each of their games this season.
The match was mostly an uninspiring affair as neither side were able to seriously test the other's goalkeeper until the end, though Leicester were unfortunate not to get a penalty in the first half.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Despite the arrival of Swiss international Gokhan Inler from Napoli, the Foxes named an unchanged side from the one that beat West Ham United, while Christian Eriksen's knee injury forced the only change for Spurs with Erik Lamela coming in.
The first half was a fairly dour affair with both sides failing to produce much of note going forward.
Sloppy play in midfield punctuated much of the first 45 minutes as the teams frequently exchanged possession, probing one another for an opening, but a lack of incisive play in the final third led to very few chances being created.
Marc Albrighton narrowly sent his shot off target after ghosting past a Spurs defender, while Mousa Dembele had two shots from the edge of the area saved comfortably by Kasper Schmeichel.
Spurs clearly identified Mahrez as Leicester's dangerman—the Algerian had scored three goals in his two games prior to Saturday—hacking him down on the edge of the area just 10 minutes in.
The Lilywhites were then fortunate not to concede a penalty for a foul on Mahrez immediately before the break, per the BBC's John Bennett:
Spurs received another lucky break shortly after the restart, when the already booked Dembele avoided a yellow card for a high challenge.
The game found some fluency though as both teams enjoyed some promising chances early in the second half.
Nacer Chadli had two shots on goal for the visitors while Danny Drinkwater latched onto a dangerous Mahrez cross, but neither could find a clinical edge as all three efforts missed their target.
Mahrez continued to threaten and almost broke the deadlock midway through the half with a driving run into the penalty area, but the 24-year-old could only find the woodwork with Hugo Lloris beaten.
With nine minutes of normal time remaining, Spurs finally ended the stalemate when they broke with pace and Alli rose to nod home Chadli's cross.
The Foxes weren't about to lie down and surrender though, replying within a minute as Mahrez pounced on Jamie Vardy's flick on and fired a powerful strike with his left foot across goal and into the net.
Football writer Graham Ruthven was on hand to capture the moment, after Spurs gave away a lead for the second week running:
With Leicester carrying on their magnificent run from the end of last season and Mahrez in such majestic form, the Foxes will be eagerly anticipating their trip to Bournemouth in Week 4, though the Cherries will be buoyed by their excellent result at Upton Park.
As for Spurs, they have now thrown away a winning position in consecutive matches.
The lack of ruthless finishing in the match highlighted their need to buy a centre-forward to partner with Harry Kane, and with Everton coming up next they could do with dipping into the transfer market sooner rather than later.
Post-Match Reaction
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri was pleased with the result, and took the time to praise the in-form Mahrez. Per BBC Sport, he said:
"Tottenham kept possession of the ball but we created the same chances and 1-1 is the right result.
I am happy, My players have a fantastic spirit. It was an outstanding goal and Riyad Mahrez is a very good player.
It is important to maintain our place in the Premier League. Seven points, 33 less, that is important for us.
"
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino expressed his dismay at the result after his side went 1-0 up.
Per BBC Sport, he said: "I am disappointed with the draw. Last game against Stoke we lost a 2-0 lead and we did it again. We deserved more again but it is a shame. I am angry and disappointed, not frustrated. The mistake we made today is difficult to explain."
