Leicester strike late to deny old manager Ranieri

Fulham 1 Leicester City 1

CLAUDIO Ranieri was denied a memorable victory over Leicester when his former team recovered from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

The manager had been out of the Premier League for approaching two years since his sacking by Leicester, who he remarkably inspired to the title in 2016, when last month Fulham recruited him to lead them to safety.

His influence has already been felt and he was on course to take them out of the relegation zone when Aboubakar Kamara gave the hosts a first-half lead.

The classy James Maddison then scored during the second half, 16 minutes from time, as both teams wasted further chances, instead keeping Fulham bottom.

It was in only the third minute when Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho combined for their first sight on goal.

When the midfielder’s throughball sent Iheanacho through on Sergio Rico he had a fine chance to give them the lead, but where the injured Jamie Vardy — who he had replaced — would likely have finished he instead shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic was denied from the first of several chances that came before halftime when Kasper Schmeichel saved his close-range shot.

The opener came in the 42nd minute when Kamara gave Fulham the lead.

Mitrovic flicked on to Kamara, who eased ahead of Caglar Soyuncu into the area before cutting inside and finishing.

But in the second half Shinji Okazaki and Demarai Gray exchanged passes before the former then laid back, inside the area, in front of Maddison, who calmly curled home for the leveller.