Darren Staples
Tottenham dominated and took an early lead at promoted Leicester for the resumption of the Premier League on Monday, but the “Spurs” were held to a 1-1 draw and are worried after the serious injury to midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who was taken off on a stretcher.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan player was injured at the end of the game during an aerial duel and the emergency services immediately attended to him, called by his teammates, whose faces betrayed great concern.
He was carried off the pitch at the King Power Stadium on a stretcher, wearing a mask on his face, to the applause of the opposing crowd.
The incident cast a chill over a lively encounter, which Tottenham outrageously dominated, especially in the first half, but without managing to put themselves beyond control.
Up front, Dominic Solanke fought hard for his official debut in the “Spurs” jersey, who recruited him from Bournemouth for around 80 million euros (76 M EUR plus 11.5 M EUR in bonuses).
But it was his fellow Englishman James Maddison, a former Leicester player, who took the spotlight in the match, between the whistles that accompanied his return to the King Power Stadium and the applause that followed his replacement in the second half.
He notably delivered a superb cross for Pedro Porro’s head (29th, 1-0) to open the scoring.
Leicester, cornered, managed to hold the score and then equalize thanks to their iconic 37-year-old captain, Jamie Vardy, with a furious diving header (57th, 1-1).
The 2016 English champion, a surprise starter after an incomplete pre-season, almost doubled the lead in the 70th minute but Guglielmo Vicario won the one-on-one.
Darren Staples
Speaking to Sky Sports, Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou admitted it was a “disappointing evening”, which started with good intentions and ended in fear of losing.
“The first half was excellent, we controlled the game but we wasted it in front of goal. Same in the second half. We started well and once Leicester scored the crowd got behind them and we lost our cool,” summed up the Australian manager.
His ultra-offensive football showed its beauty and its limits, like a summary of the game put in place last season, already.
Not folding the game, “it’s a problem that we also had last year,” he acknowledged on the air of the broadcaster. “We have to continue to work hard and be a little more ruthless in front of goal. Dominating to this extent, we should be out of reach.”
