Tottenham 1-2 Leicester: Vardy and El Khannouss Punish Sloppy Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester City, as Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss inspired a stunning second-half turnaround for the Foxes. Spurs, who initially took the lead through Richarlison, now find themselves grappling with mounting criticism and frustration from fans.

Match Summary: Leicester’s Quick Comeback Stuns Spurs

Tottenham began the match promisingly, with Richarlison marking his return to the starting lineup by heading in Pedro Porro’s pinpoint cross in the 33rd minute. However, Leicester’s defensive frailties didn’t define the game. Instead, their swift counterattacks and clinical finishing turned the tide.

Just 58 seconds into the second half, Jamie Vardy capitalized on a defensive mishap by Tottenham to level the score. Moments later, Bilal El Khannouss showcased his class, waltzing through Spurs’ defense and curling a low effort into the net.

Leicester’s quick-fire goals not only secured them a vital win but also pushed them out of the relegation zone, while Tottenham languished in 15th place, raising further doubts about their season.

Player Ratings: Who Shined and Who Struggled?

Tottenham Player Ratings (4-3-3 Formation)

• Antonin Kinsky (GK): 6.1/10 – Couldn’t do much to prevent the goals.
• Pedro Porro (RB): 8.2/10 – Provided the assist for Richarlison’s goal and was Spurs’ best performer.
• Radu Dragusin (CB): 6.5/10 – Struggled under pressure during Leicester’s goals.
• Ben Davies (CB): 6.3/10 – Looked out of sorts in key defensive moments.
• Archie Gray (LB): 5.5/10 – Exposed on multiple occasions.
• Lucas Bergvall (CM): 6.8/10 – Worked hard in midfield but lacked creativity.
• Rodrigo Bentancur (CM): 6.6/10 – Showed glimpses of his ability but couldn’t dominate.
• Pape Sarr (CM): 6.5/10 – Decent work rate but struggled to influence the game.
• Dejan Kulusevski (RW): 6.0/10 – Failed to make a significant impact.
• Richarlison (ST): 7.0/10 – Scored the opening goal but was substituted early.
• Son Heung-min (LW): 7.4/10 – Tried to lead the attack but was isolated after tactical changes.

Substitutions:

• Sergio Reguilon (54′ for Sarr): 6.5/10 – Solid but unspectacular.
• Mikey Moore (54′ for Richarlison): 5.8/10 – Struggled to make an impact.
• Will Lankshear (90′ for Gray): N/A

Leicester Player Ratings (4-2-3-1 Formation)

• Jakub Stolarczyk (GK): 8.6/10 – Made crucial saves and was Leicester’s standout performer.
• James Justin (RB): 7.5/10 – Defended well and supported attacks.
• Wout Faes (CB): 7.3/10 – A much-improved display alongside Vestergaard.
• Jannik Vestergaard (CB): 7.3/10 – Held his ground despite early wobbles.
• Victor Kristiansen (LB): 7.4/10 – Balanced defensive duties with forward runs.
• Harry Winks (CM): 7.5/10 – Controlled the tempo in midfield.
• Boubakary Soumare (CM): 7.8/10 – Dominated Spurs’ midfield.
• Bilal El Khannouss (AM): 8.2/10 – Scored the decisive goal with a moment of brilliance.
• Jordan Ayew (RW): 7.3/10 – Energetic and threatening on the right flank.
• Jamie Vardy (ST): 7.5/10 – Took his goal well and tormented Spurs’ defense.
• Bobby De Cordova-Reid (LW): 8.5/10 – A tireless display capped with an assist.

Substitutions:

• Facundo Buonanotte (77′ for El Khannouss): 6.2/10 – Played a minor role in closing out the game.
• Patson Daka (77′ for Vardy): 6.2/10 – Added fresh legs up front.

Player of the Match: Jakub Stolarczyk

The Leicester goalkeeper was outstanding, making crucial saves to deny Tottenham any hope of a comeback. His performance was pivotal in securing the Foxes’ victory.

Do you agree with these player ratings? Which Spurs player disappointed you the most, and who stood out for Leicester? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!