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Man United at Leicester; Spurs lose at home to WBA; Lampard scores against Chelsea

Malta Independent Sunday, 21 September 2014, 17:39 Last update: about 11 years ago

Manchester United twice surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 5-3 to Leicester in a wild Premier League game on Sunday, with the promoted side scoring four times in 20 minutes to cap its thrilling comeback.

Angel Di Maria's exquisite chip put United 2-0 ahead in the 16th minute but it proved in vain as Leicester came from 3-1 down with 28 minutes left.

Penalties by David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa — the second after Tyler Blackett's sending-off — came either side of goals by Esteban Cambiasso and Jamie Vardy as United's defense imploded at King Power Stadium.

Robin van Persie and Di Maria scored to give United a great start before Ulloa reduced the deficit in the 18th with a third goal in a five-minute span. Ander Herrera regained the two-goal lead with a deft flick before United collapsed, leaving the team with five points from its opening five games.

"We have too many players who want to seek for the goal," United manager Louis van Gaal said.

"It is not good," he added, "because we have the game in our pocket and gave it away."

After beating Queens Park Rangers 4-0 last weekend, United's all-star attack looks in good shape, with Radamel Falcao making his first start and setting up Van Persie's deflected header for the 13th-minute opener. Di Maria repaid even more of his $99 million price tag by producing another effervescent display and his goal — a scoop over the goalkeeper from about 15 yards (meters) out — would have been the highlight on another day.

But United continue to look vulnerable defensively, with Blackett's upcoming suspension and a first-half injury to Jonny Evans not helping. Leicester could have won by even more as it created chance after chance in the final minutes.

"It was absolutely brilliant," said Vardy. "We exploited their weaknesses and we got the result."

Leicester's fightback was sparked by a penalty awarded after Rafael da Silva was adjudged to have pushed Vardy in the back. The striker appeared to have got away with a nudge on Rafael seconds earlier.

Nugent slammed his penalty down the middle, Cambiasso drove in a low shot less than two minutes later for the equalizer before Vardy was sent clean through in the 79th minute to slip a low shot past David de Gea, with no United defender near him.

Blackett was bundled off the ball by Vardy in the 83rd minute and, in attempts to get the ball back, tackled the striker from behind. Blackett was shown a straight red card and Ulloa made no mistake from the spot.

"How is it possible to give this game away?" Van Gaal said. "Leicester has proven already in four games that they have a strong character and that when they are 3-1 down, you can play all the game with more possession but you cannot do these kind of things."

WBA win at Spurs

Under-fire Alan Irvine secured his first Premier League win in charge of West Bromwich Albion after deservedly overcoming sloppy Tottenham 1-0 Sunday through James Morrison's second-half header.

It was West Brom's first win at White Hart Lane since 1984 and one which looked likely from the outset, with Joleon Lescott denied a goal on an impressive debut after an unfortunate block by teammate Craig Dawson.

West Brom should have had a first-half penalty when Emmanuel Adebayor handled Dawson's header but the visitors continued to press after the break in a display that belied their lowly standing.

Morrison was left unmarked at a corner by Erik Lamela and his header in the 74th minute proved the difference, condemning Spurs to straight home league defeats for the first time since November 2012.

Lampard scores against Chelsea

Frank Lampard scored a late equalizer against his former club Chelsea to earn 10-man Manchester City a 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday and end the leaders' winning start to the season.

Lampard, who was released by Chelsea this summer after scoring a club-record 211 goals in 13 years, held his arm out and refused to celebrate after his side-footed shot deflected in off John Terry in the 85th minute.

City right back Pablo Zabaleta was sent off in the 66th after picking up a second booking, and Chelsea capitalized by opening the scoring five minutes later when substitute Andre Schuerrle tapped in Eden Hazard's low cross.

Chelsea dropped points for the first time in five games but still holds a three-point lead over Southampton and is five clear of City — arguably its biggest rival for the title.

It was a typical late surge into the box by Lampard, who had only come on as a substitute seven minutes earlier as City fought back after going a man and a goal down. He looked emotional as he walked off, head down, after the ball hit the net and didn't want to celebrate with his joyous teammates.

"I'm a bit lost for words — I didn't expect to score like that," Lampard said. "I'm a bit stuck in the middle."

Chelsea fans had been singing Lampard's name throughout the match, hailing one of the club's greatest servants who was allowed to join New York City in the summer. Lampard is spending the first half of the season on loan at City, the parent club of New York City.

City is now winless in four games in all competitions but came back well after losing Zabaleta, who lunged at Diego Costa near the halfway line and became entangled with the Spain striker.

Chelsea did the double over City last season, with its win at Etihad Stadium in February widely hailed as a tactical clinic from Jose Mourinho. And the Portuguese coach was happy to ditch the flamboyance that had helped his team claim four straight win for what will probably be its toughest match of the campaign.

It made for a tense, edgy and physical battle that was dominated by defenses, with Eliaquim Mangala enjoying a strong starting debut for City after his big-money summer move from Porto.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first half and Costa, who had scored seven goals so far and at least one in every match, was a peripheral figure.

City started the second half well, with Sergio Aguero forcing a save out of Thibaut Courtois and Edin Dzeko denied on the rebound by a lunging tackle from Ramires.

But the game turned on Zabaleta's sending off and within five minutes Costa led a counterattack by Chelsea and Hazard crossed for Schuerrle to tap in at the far post.

Lampard had the last say, though.

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