Leicester City vs Manchester United. Premier League.
The King Power StadiumAttendance31,784.
Tuesday 23 September 2014 08:25, UK
Leicester City produced a sensational comeback to leave big-spending Manchester United shell-shocked after a 5-3 win at the King Power Stadium.
The Premier League newcomers found themselves 2-0 down with Robin van Persie and a world class finish from Angel Di Maria, who scored a stunning chip over Kasper Schmeichel.
But, however impressive United's Galacticos are on the attack, the fact remains this squad is woefully sub-standard at the back and Leicester took full advantage to record their first home victory over the 20-time champions since 1985.
Leonardo Ulloa pulled one back before Ander Herrera's restored United two-goal cushion, but David Nugent scored from the spot after a needless foul by Rafael on Jamie Vardy.
Esteban Cambiasso restored parity with a goal on his full debut to send the home fans into delirium.
Incredibly, Vardy handed the Foxes the lead 11 minutes from time and then United's day got worse when Tyler Blackett was sent off for bringing down the dangerous Vardy in the box.
Ulloa stepped up to convert for his fifth goal of the season to lift Nigel Pearson's side into sixth spot.
The defeat brought Louis Van Gaal back down to earth following his first victory against QPR last week. Much work clearly has to be done if he is to achieve his target of a top-three finish.
Jonny Evans denied Ulloa twice early on, first with a clever header and then with a fine block, which clearly hurt the centre-back.
It did not take long for Di Maria to start causing trouble at the other end though.
The former Real Madrid man drove at the Leicester defence and slotted Van Persie in behind, but Schmeichel ran out and blocked the Dutchman's shot.
United were now in full flow. They looked particularly venomous down the left, where Marcos Rojo and Di Maria were proving far too quick for Ritchie De Laet.
The former United right-back dived in and allowed full debutant Radamel Falcao, who started ahead of Juan Mata, to turn the ball past him in the 12th minute. The Colombian paused and chipped a pin-point cross to Van Persie, whose header flew past Schmeichel off Liam Moore.
Just three minutes later, Di Maria doubled the lead with an early contender for goal of the season.
The Argentine sprinted from inside his own half and picked a return ball up off Wayne Rooney before he scooped the ball over Schmeichel with his left boot.
Van Gaal rose to his feet to commend the £59.7million signing.
Just 72 seconds later the United boss was cursing his defence as they allowed Leicester back into the game. Vardy got to the byline and whipped in a flat ball to the back post where Ulloa powered a header past David De Gea.
United suffered a couple of injury problems before the break. Evans, still struggling after blocking Ulloa's early shot, hobbled off and was replaced by Chris Smalling.
Di Maria also needed his wrist strapped after he was brushed off the ball by De Laet.
There was no sign of the impending meltdown in the rest of the first half. Smalling, Daley Blind and Blackett all looked sturdy at the back.
United should have had their third just before the break when Rojo headed over from four yards.
Within three minutes of the restart Falcao had rattled the bar with a fine volley.
Herrera went one better in the 57th minute, as he turned the ball in to make it 3-1. The Spaniard cleverly flicked Rooney's goal-bound shot past Schmeichel from six yards after Rafael caused havoc in the box with a wicked low cross
The Brazilian quickly went from hero to villain though as he gave away a contentious penalty at the other end.
Vardy barged Rafael off the ball down Leicester's left and the defender lost his cool, nudging over the forward in the box.
Mark Clattenburg ignored United's protestations and pointed to the spot. Nugent blasted the ball down the middle past De Gea to score.
Within two minutes, United's defence went to pieces again and Leicester equalised.
Dean Hammond, given plenty of space on the edge of the box, saw his shot blocked in the centre of the area where Cambiasso pounced, stabbing the ball past De Gea.
Van Gaal slumped further into his seat with 12 minutes left when Leicester, amazingly, took the lead.
De Laet nicked the ball off Mata, who had just come on for Di Maria, and cantered down the left back before finding the unmarked Vardy, who calmly beat De Gea.
Yet more shocking defending was to come from the visitors. Vardy easily nudged Blackett aside and raced towards the box, only to be brought down by the young centre-half with an awful tackle from behind.
Mark Clattenburg had no option but to send Blackett off. Ulloa beat De Gea from 12 yards to seal Leicester's fairytale victory.
