Jamie Vardy spearheaded a remarkable Leicester City comeback as they clawed back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester’s new manager, hailed Vardy as “top class” following the veteran striker’s 86th-minute goal and an assist for Bobby De Cordova-Reid in stoppage time (90+1).
The thrilling comeback widened the gap between Leicester and the relegation zone to five points.
“Brilliant moment so late in the game,” said Van Nistelrooy, who has yet to taste defeat since taking charge. “To have the calmness and the composure to decide on these things, it’s absolutely top class.”
Brighton had dominated early proceedings but failed to capitalize on several chances. Both João Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma missed opportunities before Tariq Lamptey broke the deadlock just before halftime with a spectacular strike.
The full-back received the ball outside the box, cut inside on his weaker left foot, and unleashed a curling effort into the top corner, leaving Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen stranded.
Brighton’s head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who made four changes to his starting XI after their 3-1 loss to Fulham, handed Evan Ferguson his second Premier League start of the season.
However, a wasteful first half and poor game management proved costly.
In the second half, Leicester emerged reinvigorated. Vardy had an early chance blocked and later came close with a header. However, Brighton looked to have sealed the points when Yankuba Minteh came off the bench, sprinted through Leicester’s defense, and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
But Leicester responded immediately. Vardy ignited the revival with a deft finish at the back post and then assisted De Cordova-Reid for a dramatic equalizer, silencing the visiting fans in just six electrifying minutes.
The Seagulls, suffering their second setback in a week, now face the challenge of bouncing back against arch-rivals Crystal Palace in their next game, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Speaking after the game, Van Nistelrooy lauded his team’s resilience, “Coming back from 2-0 is a great show of character. I enjoyed the second half from this team. From the minute we walked out of the tunnel, we had to change the pressure.”
The Dutchman highlighted the improvement from their previous match against West Ham, “We got the pressure right in the second half, winning the duels and keeping the ball. The lads were just focused on getting on with it and getting the performance going. We have players coming off the bench that can turn the game around when the crowd gets behind them.”
On Vardy’s unselfish assist for the equalizer, Van Nistelrooy humorously admitted, “I’ll have to watch it back!”
The draw not only extends Van Nistelrooy’s unbeaten run but also moves Leicester four points clear of the drop zone.
Brighton’s collapse marked the third time this season they have dropped points from a winning position. The Seagulls have now lost 14 points in this fashion—more than any other Premier League team.
Reflecting on the result, Hurzeler expressed his frustration, “The first goal happened out of nowhere. We wanted to go to a back five after that to defend the goal. But they put a lot of players into our box. We made an easy mistake in the build-up, but that is football.”
Brighton now faces a critical test against Crystal Palace, with Hurzeler urging his team to find composure, “You can’t always have an explanation for things on the pitch. The players tried to give their best for the team and for the victory. This is where you grow as a person and as a team.”
The Seagulls’ boss added, “When you are 2-0 up, you control the whole game, you should be disappointed. We get punished for two easy mistakes. The third time this season. We need to find the right game management.”
For Leicester, Vardy’s record-breaking night as the second-oldest player to both score and assist in a Premier League match was another example of his enduring quality.
At 37 years and 332 days, Vardy continues to defy expectations, inspiring Leicester to fight for survival under their new boss.