Veteran striker Jamie Vardy earned newly-promoted Leicester City a 1-1 draw with a profligate Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League season opener on Monday.
Tottenham controlled the first half, but despite creating several good chances, Pedro Porro’s goal in the 29th minute was the only one they could convert.
More promising opportunities came after the break, but Spurs couldn’t take advantage. Their missed chances proved costly when Leicester captain Jamie Vardy headed in the equalizer in the 57th minute.
Richarlison missed a prime opportunity to win the game late on, leaving Tottenham with a point in a match they should have won.
"It was a frustrating night," Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou told Sky Sports. "We were excellent in the first half, dominating the game, but we lacked finishing. The second half followed a similar pattern.
"We started strong, but after Leicester scored, the atmosphere shifted, and we lost control. This was an issue we faced last season as well. We need to keep working on being more clinical in front of goal and making better decisions.
"It's not about the effort or our style of play; to get the results we want, we have to be more decisive in the final third. If not, we won’t get the rewards we deserve."
Things got worse for Spurs when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was taken off on a stretcher after an eight-minute delay following a serious collision in the second half. In what seemed like a game where Spurs could have scored more, Dominic Solanke missed clear chances to put the game away.
But Vardy, presented with his opportunity, didn’t waste it, scoring his eighth opening-day Premier League goal—only Mohamed Salah of Liverpool has more. Tottenham’s disappointing end to last season saw them miss out on a top-four spot during Postecoglou’s debut campaign.
The club invested in new signings this summer to push for Champions League qualification again, with Solanke being their biggest signing. The former Bournemouth striker, returning to the Premier League after a year in the Championship, should have opened his account for Spurs in the first half at the King Power Stadium.
Wasted opportunities allowed Leicester to stay in the game, with Porro converting a James Maddison cross for the opening goal. Solanke continued to miss chances in the second half, but Vardy seized his moment, grabbing a point for Leicester and adding to his record tally of opening-day goals in the Premier League.
"I don’t focus on my age," Vardy said. "As long as I feel fit and my legs are in good shape, I’ll keep going for as long as I can.
"I haven’t changed much in my game, maybe just dropped a little deeper at times. The key is looking after myself and maximizing recovery time."
Stay updated with the latest Tottenham news and opinions by following COYS News on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Comentarios