Jamie Vardy inspired a dramatic late comeback as Leicester City battled from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the King Power Stadium. The veteran striker played a pivotal role, scoring in the 86th minute and setting up Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s stoppage-time equalizer to rescue a vital point for the Foxes, who moved five points clear of the relegation zone.
Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy heaped praise on Vardy’s decisive contributions. “Brilliant moment so late in the game,” Van Nistelrooy said, preserving his unbeaten start at the helm. “To have the calmness and the composure to decide on these things, it’s absolutely top class.”
Brighton, however, will rue their missed opportunities, particularly in the first half. Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma both squandered golden chances to put the Seagulls ahead before Tariq Lamptey broke the deadlock just before halftime. The defender delivered a stunning solo effort, curling a left-footed strike into the top corner from outside the area, leaving Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen with no chance.
The visitors doubled their lead in the second half after substitute Yankuba Minteh made an immediate impact. Racing onto a through ball, Minteh fired a clinical low finish into the bottom corner, seemingly sealing the game for Brighton.
However, Leicester responded with resilience and determination. Vardy began the comeback in the 86th minute, sneaking in at the back post to score a tidy finish. Just minutes later, he turned provider, calmly laying the ball off to De Cordova-Reid, who tapped home the equalizer in the first minute of added time, completing an astonishing six-minute turnaround.
The result marks a frustrating week for Brighton, who also suffered a defeat to Fulham in midweek. With Crystal Palace looming in their next fixture, Roberto De Zerbi’s side will need to regroup quickly to avoid further setbacks.
For Leicester, the comeback highlighted their fighting spirit under Van Nistelrooy’s leadership, giving them hope as they seek to pull further away from the bottom three.
