Slimani saves Foxes to deny brave Boro victory
ISLAM SLIMANI’S injurytime penalty rescued a point for poor Leicester as they got out of jail against Middlesbrough.
The Foxes avoided a third straight Premier League defeat to claim a draw against Boro, who were seconds away from a deserved victory.
Alvaro Negredo had twice put them ahead, with Riyad Mahrez levelling in the first half with his own penalty, but Slimani’s last- gasp spot kick saved the Foxes.
The visitors started with confidence while Leicester lacked the intensity which helped them to a 2-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge on Tuesday.
The first warning came when Adama Traore burst into the area and RonRobert Zieler palmed his cross out to Marten De Roon to fire wide from the edge of the box.
Ranieri admitted prematch he needed to ring his imaginary bell to wake the Foxes up from their slumber, but that warning was not heeded, and subdued City paid the price when Boro took a deserved lead after 13 minutes.
Negredo started the move when he collected a high ball on the halfway line, as Leicester appealed for an offside flag which was never going to come.
He spread it to Gaston Ramirez and timed his run to meet the Uruguayan’s low cross and sweep the ball in to the top corner from 16 yards.
The Foxes almost levelled after half an hour when Shinji Okazaki hit the woodwork with an overhead kick.
That chance lifted Leicester, and they levelled four minutes later in controversial fashion.
Danny Simpson launched a deep cross and Calum Chambers, who had just been booked for catching Jamie Vardy in the face, handled under pressure from Wes Morgan.
Morgan had certainly
given Chambers a shove and referee Lee Mason took an age to decide but eventually awarded the spot kick. Mahrez fired in his seventh goal of the season off a post.
The goal transformed the Foxes and Ramirez had to make a goal- saving challenge when he whipped the ball off Vardy’s toes with the striker set to score.
Half-time allowed Middlesbrough to regain their composure and while Leicester had improved, they still failed to create meaningful chances.
Marc Albrighton headed over after 62 minutes and Ranieri turned to record £ 30million buy Slimani with 25 minutes left.
Just as Leicester were started to edge the contest Boro went ahead again with 19 minutes left with Negredo’s second.
The Foxes were completely caught out by a ball over the top, and Neg redo on side, the striker raced into the area to plant a fine angled finish past Zieler.
But Leicester levelled in the third minute of injury time when Morgan was fouled in the box by de Roon and Slimani sent Valdes the wrong way.