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PREMIER LEAGUE leader Leicester City salvaged a point from Leonardo Ulloa’s penalty with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 in a thriller with West Ham United and open an eight-point gap over chasing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Ulloa struck five minutes into added time to earn a draw for the Foxes, who had looked headed for defeat after West Ham scored twice in three minutes through Andy Carroll’s 84th minute spot kick and Aaron Cresswell’s fine strike to lead 2-1.
Although Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri praised what he called his team’s fantastic performance built on “blood, heart and soul,” the match proved costly for the hosts as they chase a first top-flight title.
Their first-half scorer Jamie Vardy was sent off early in the second and will be suspended for the match at home to Swansea City on Sunday and they dropped points for the first time after five straight wins.
Leicester lead the standings with 73 points from 34 matches, followed by Spurs, who have 65 from 33 and played their game in hand at Stoke City yesterday.
Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with visiting Crystal Palace on Sunday, remains fourth on 60 points, behind Manchester City, 3-0 winner at last season’s champion Chelsea on Saturday, on goal difference.
A victory over West Ham and defeat for Spurs yesterday would have left Leicester 10 points clear with four games to play.
West Ham remained sixth on 53 points, three behind Manchester United as the pair chase a European spot.
Arsenal’s lingering title hopes appeared to all but end after it was held by lowly Palace, who equalized eight minutes from time when Yannick Bolasie sent a low shot from the edge of the box past Petr Cech at the near post.
Eighth-placed Liverpool, with 10 changes from the side that beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 to reach the Europa League semifinals Thursday, won 2-1 at Bournemouth with goals at the end of the first half from Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge.
Josh King scored a late consolation for the hosts.
(SD-Agencies)
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