Manchester United stunned at the death as Harry Maguire grabs 94th-minute equaliser

Updated 23/12/2017 at 22:08 GMT

Premier League, King Power Stadium – Leicester City 2 (Vardy 27’, Maguire 94’) Manchester United 2 (Mata 39’, 60’)

Leicester City's Harry Maguire scores their second goal

Image credit: Reuters

Harry Maguire scored a 94th minute goal to earn ten-man Leicester City a dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

United started with Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones in defence and the pair struggled to deal with the Foxes’ counter attacks in an entertaining first half.

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And they handed the hosts an early Christmas present when Jones jogged back to his own half, allowing Riyad Mahrez to tee up Jamie Vardy to score his 50th Premier League goal for the club.

But Jose Mourinho’s side, buoyed by the return of Paul Pogba from suspension, levelled before the break through Juan Mata’s crisp finish from close range.

The second half had its fair share of drama with both sides spurning good chances before Mata scored again with a sublime free-kick.

Leicester City's Daniel Amartey is sent off by referee Jonathan Moss

Image credit: Reuters

The home side’s task became even harder when substitute Daniel Amartey was shown two yellow cards in the space of just 16 minutes to see them reduced to ten men.

But they levelled with the last kick of the game when an injured Chris Smalling was tasked with marking Maguire who slid in to score, a result which leaves United 13 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City.

TALKING POINT

Why was an injured Chris Smalling marking Harry Maguire in stoppage time?

The defender suffered a groin injury and had treatment off the field. He came back on but was tasked with marking one of Leicester’s dangerous players from set pieces and that decision cost United dearly. Victor Lindelof had moved into central defence but there appeared to be an argument involving Ander Herrera on who should drop back.

Leicester City's Harry Maguire scores their second goal

Image credit: Reuters

MAN OF THE MATCH

Juan Mata (Manchester United): The Spaniard is not a prolific goal scorer but he scores vital goals. With his side trailing, he produced a clinical finish before finding the net with a cracker of a free-kick.

Juan Mata of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on December 23, 2017

Image credit: Getty Images

PLAYER RATINGS

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel 5, Simpson 7, Morgan 7 Maguire 6, Fuchs 5, Albrighton 5, Ndidi 6, Iborra 4, Gray 5, Mahrez 8, Vardy 7. Subs: Amartey 3, Okazaki 5, Chilwell n/a.

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 5, Jones 4, Lindelof 5, Smalling 6, Young 6, Matic 5, Pogba 7, Mata 8, Lingard 6, Martial 5, Lukaku 6. Subs: Rashford 5, Mkhitaryan n/a.

KEY MOMENTS:

5’ - GOOD SAVE! Lingard trades passes with Lukaku and fires in a shot from 20 yards which takes a deflection and is tipped over the bar by Schmeichel.

27’ - GOAL FOR LEICESTER! The hosts catch out United with a long ball. Mahrez runs onto it and coolly feeds Vardy who slots it past De Gea first time.

40’ - GOAL FOR UNITED! Martial's low cross is deflected, Lingard tees up Mata whose low shot finds the bottom corner of the net.

53’ - CHANCE! Fuchs has plenty of space in the box to shoot, he fires his effort towards goal but Lindelof does well to block it.

54’ - MARTIAL MISS! Straight down the other end, Lukaku does well to find Martial who is through on goal but fires his effort over the bar. Poor effort.

61’ - GOAL FOR MATA! Martial is tripped on the edge of the box by Fuchs. Mata steps up and curls into the roof of the net.

72’ - LINGARD MISS! Lukaku threads it through to Lingard who rounds the keeper and hits the post before blazing the rebound over. He cannot believe he has not scored from there.

73’ - RED CARD! Sub Amartey is shown a second yellow for barging over Rashford on the touchline. He was only on the firld for 17 minutes.

85’ - PENALTY APPEAL! Smalling had his two hands on the back of Maguire to head the ball away, that was right in front of Jon Moss but no foul is given.

90’+4 - GOAL FOR LEICESTER! Maguire springs up at the back post to slide in to score from Albrighton's cross.