Wilfred Ndidi brilliant as Palace force Leicester City to 2-2 draw
Leicester City were minutes away from securing their first Premier League win of the season, thanks to a commanding performance from Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, but a last-minute penalty denied them victory in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Foxes, winless in their first three league games since their return to the top flight, earned a hard-fought point, with Ndidi playing a pivotal role in both of Leicester’s goals.
Leicester entered the match following a defeat to Aston Villa, but they started confidently against Crystal Palace. The Foxes dominated the early stages, nearly taking the lead after five minutes when Jordan Ayew was brilliantly set up by Ndidi, only for the Ghanaian to miss the target.
Despite the early pressure, it was Jamie Vardy who broke the deadlock. Ndidi once again played a key role, providing a perfect assist for the former England striker to round the goalkeeper and slot home, giving Leicester a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Leicester began the second half strongly, and Ndidi wasted no time making an impact. Just one minute after the restart, the Nigerian set up Steph Mavididi for Leicester’s second goal, putting the Foxes in a commanding position.
However, Crystal Palace responded almost immediately through Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose goal breathed new life into the home side.
The Eagles piled on the pressure, forcing Leicester’s coach Steve Cooper to make a change, substituting Ndidi for Hamza Choudhury after a standout performance from the Nigerian midfielder, who recorded two assists, four key passes, and created three big chances.
Just as it seemed Leicester would hold on for their first win of the season, disaster struck in stoppage time. A foul by Conor Coady in the box handed Crystal Palace a lifeline, and Mateta stepped up to convert the penalty, sealing a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Despite the disappointment of conceding late, Ndidi’s brilliant display will be a major positive for Leicester as they continue their quest for their first league win.
