Veteran Vardy denies wasteful Spurs
Jamie Vardy made Tottenham pay for missing a host of chances as Premier League newcomer Leicester City started the Steve Cooper era by battling to a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.
Ex-Foxes midfielder James Maddison set up Pedro Porro to head home the opener in the match, which Ange Postecoglou's visitor dominated for large periods.
But veteran Vardy, who Cooper had ruled out only a few days ago, scored a ninth career Premier League goal against Spurs to bring the home fans to their feet.
Tottenham, which lost Rodrigo Bentancur to a head injury that caused a lengthy stoppage in the second half, was left to rue a series of missed opportunities with debutant Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison all culpable.
Maddison clipped in a brilliant cross for Porro to flick home after 29 minutes, with Brennan Johnson volleying wide and Solanke – signed for £65million from Bournemouth this month – heading straight at Mads Hermansen.
Vardy made Spurs when nodding in Abdul Fatawu's dinked cross from the right of the area and was denied one-on-one by Guglielmo Vicario shortly after as the momentum changed.
Bentancur's lengthy stoppage after a clash of heads with Fatawu meant there were nine minutes of added time, and Richarlison wastefully headed wide after a fabulous free-kick from fellow substitute and teenage debutant Lucas Bergvall in the last of those.
