Leicester 2-1 Tottenham: Foxes mount stunning fightback as Spurs stung by VAR controversy
The late winner of James Maddison earned Leicester a beating 2-1 home victory over Tottenham, as VAR reoccupied center stage.
Technology ruled out Serge Aurier’s goal that would have put the Spurs 2-0 ahead just minutes before Ricardo Pereira’s leveler.
Son Heung-min was considered to be fractionally out of play in the accumulation. It was the second goal scored after Wilfred Ndidi’s effort in the first half was canceled out of play.
Maddison then dismissed a late winner in front of seeing England chief Gareth Southgate.
He eliminated the brilliant improvised final of Harry Kane that put Mauricio Pochettino’s team ahead in the first half.
The Spurs are still looking for their first victory outside the Premier League since January and missed the opportunity to close the gap with the leaders of the Liverpool Premier League.
Leicester continued with his impressive way to move to second place before subsequent games.
Maddison gave a signal of what would come after 15 minutes when he forced Paulo Gazzaniga, beginning with the disappearance of Hugo Lloris after his wife gave birth, in his first rescue.
The midfielder danced past Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld just so that his low effort near the post was lagging behind.
It was the first scare for the Spurs and they survived another thanks to VAR after 17 minutes.
Gazzaniga spilled the impulse of Youri Tielemans and, after Ayoze Pérez kicked badly, Ndidi approached closely, only for VAR to discard the goal with the pair out of play.
The decision was correct but it increased the atmosphere of an intense game that continued to entertain after Kane’s invention in 29 minutes.
The pattern of England got caught in Son’s back heel, but was cut by Caglar Soyuncu and tripped over the area.
He hit the deck, but somehow managed to hook his foot and steer the ball past Kasper Schmeichel from six yards.
It was his 13th goal in 14 games against Leicester and it was no accident, the forward knew exactly what he was doing in an example of quick and brilliant thinking.
Perez forced Gazzaniga to an intelligent play near the post seven minutes before the break while Leicester tried to strike back.
They continued to press after the break and Gazzaniga diverted Jamie Vardy’s angular effort while the forward threatened to escape from Vertonghen.
But Son wasted a great opportunity to double the Spurs’ lead after 58 minutes.
Erik Lamela and Harry Winks beat Leicester at the break and found Son, but, with Schmeichel to beat, he dragged the goal from an angle.
The pace was relentless and Tottenham was furious when Aurier’s goal was canceled by the smallest margin after 64 minutes.
The excellent perforated finish on the right side of Kane’s pass seemed to have put the visitors 2-0 up, but VAR ruled, after two minutes of deliberation, that Son was offside in the accumulation.
It was another controversial decision, but Leicester took full advantage of the postponement by leveling up five minutes later.
Vardy slid down the left and his deflected cross ran towards Pereira to shoot from close range.
Leicester had the momentum and after Kane tested Schmeichel, the Fox won it with five minutes remaining.
Hamza Choudhury handed Maddison the ball to advance and bury a low blow in the bottom corner from 25 yards.