Leicester ended their four-match losing run as they produced one of the close football results of the weekend in the Premier League. After winning 3-0 at home against Liverpool the previous weekend, Roberto De Zerbi’s team traveled to the East Midlands in fine form. Kaoru Mitoma’s spectacular goal gave them a well-deserved lead in the 27th minute. However, 11 minutes later and completely out of the blue, the Foxes equalized through a close-range effort from Marc Albrighton, and the hosts subsequently went in the lead through a sweeping goal from Harvey Barnes just beyond the hour mark. Ferguson rose high to nod in Pervis Estupinan’s left-wing cross with barely two minutes remaining to give the visitors a well-earned point, but Leicester was unable to hold on.
The two teams started the day in opposing ways, with Leicester searching for any kind of success and Brighton seeking their third straight league triumph. The Brighton manager cautioned his troops not to overlook their struggling opponents before the game. However, it was De Zerbi’s team who made the opening goal as the in-form Mitoma gained control on the left, cut in, made his way to the edge of the box, and then curled a stunning shot into the top right-hand corner, leaving Danny Ward completely defenseless.
If that lead was earned, Leicester’s equalizer shortly thereafter came as a bit of a shock. Barnes was set free down the left, and after his shot was blocked and Youri Tielemans’ well-placed effort also struck a Brighton defender, Albrighton was able to score off the rebound from close range. After 63 minutes, Barnes tapped in Luke Thomas’s near-post flick from a corner after the video assistant referee, Lee Mason, had looked for potential offsides against Barnes and Jamie Vardy but had allowed the goal.
Pervis Estupinan’s cross from the left was brilliantly headed in by the unmarked Ferguson, 18, to give the visitors a well-deserved draw after a close VAR call – De Zerbi was so furious at Lee Mason’s refusal to award his side a penalty, he later questioned whether it was even in use – and several other close misses. However, just as the home supporters started to dream of a first win in two months, the visitors’ bench was given.
“Even if we ought to have won the game, coming from behind is crucial. As the season enters its second half, every point counts. The first goal disappointed me because we threw the ball away carelessly. He scored a fantastic goal, but we don’t have that quality,” Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said. “You must be proud of your ball-handling skills at this level. Our guys don’t show enough remorse when they lose it. The ball must be handled with the utmost care. Then it’s about a reaction; we discussed how if we retreated, it was an opportunity to display our character. All the way to the conclusion, the players fought. They were probably a little bit on the go. We had some of our players back, and the energy was generally present.”
“The referee had a terrible day today, a very terrible day. I try not to talk too much about referees or cry after a game about the referee. Although today’s incident is obviously a penalty, I detest those who complain about the referee,” Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said. “I can’t make sense of what the referee was seeing. You can assist me if you want to because I don’t comprehend. VAR exists, however I’m not sure if it was effective or not. It’s a crucial point. I understand football, and I am aware that sometimes games like this may be lost. I believe we deserved to win.”
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