Jamie Vardy Scores Own Goal But Fires Double To Rescue Leicester Point
Jamie Vardy scored twice – as well as an own goal – as Leicester City came from behind to deny Burnley a first Premier League win of the season.
Vardy rounded Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope from substitute Kelechi Iheanacho’s through ball with five minutes remaining to complete an eventful afternoon for the in-form Foxes striker.
Burnley’s summer signing Maxwel Cornet had scored a stunning volley for the visitors late in the first half on his first league start since joining for £12.85m from Lyon in August, firing in emphatically from Matej Vydra’s cross.
Sean Dyche’s side took an early lead when Vardy inadvertently beat Kasper Schmeichel with a flicked header at his near post from Ashley Westwood’s corner.
However, the Foxes striker atoned for his error as he raced on to Youri Tielemans’ pass and found the bottom corner – before rescuing a late point with another calm finish.
Burnley boss Dyche, who was forced to replace the impressive Cornet because of injury at the end of the first half, thought his side had scored a dramatic injury-time winner only to see Chris Wood’s header ruled out for offside.
“That was a Jamie Vardy performance. He was a threat all game, he was superb,” said Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.
“You are seeing his energy in the game, freshness, movement and work rate. He is a top, top striker. His movement for the goals was excellent, both were really good team goals but he makes the pass because of his movement.”
It proved an eventful opening 45 minutes for both Leicester’s Vardy and Burnley’s Cornet, though as has so often been the case for the Foxes it was Vardy who had the final say.
The 34-year-old missed a wonderful chance to put Leicester in front moments before his own goal when he headed Tielemans’ whipped cross over from close range.
Matt Lowton also produced a wonderful sliding challenge to prevent Vardy tapping in Ricardo Pereira’s ball across the six-yard box, as Burnley’s defence initially stood firm under pressure.
Tielemans was excellent in the Leicester midfield and a route back into the match for the hosts always appeared likely to come through him. The Belgian produced five key passes for his side, including a perfect ball to set Vardy clear for Leicester’s first.
For much of the second half Cornet’s memorable first Burnley goal looked set to give the Clarets their first win at the sixth attempt.
Sean Dyche wants Clarets to convert draws into wins
The Ivory Coast international is the first foreign first-team player Burnley have signed from abroad since Steven Defour in 2016, and he complemented his non-negotiable hard work for the team down the left with flair in the final third.
His afternoon was cut short as he pulled up with a hamstring injury, however, and while Dyche’s side seemed destined to hold out for an important opening win, Vardy had other ideas.
Sweeping past Pope to slot in his fifth goal in six league games this term, he ensured Leicester remain in mid-table following a mixed start to the campaign.
Burnley, meanwhile, sit second from bottom after picking up two points from a possible 18.
“It was a good performance overall. I’m a bit tired of saying that because we have to turn good performances into wins,” said Dyche.
“It’s life in the Premier League and we have to tidy up the details. We might just need a twist of fate on our side.”
