LEICESTER, ENGLAND // By the time of the penalty that would lead to Leicester City’s fifth goal against Manchester United, a fan wearing a blue T-shirt with the words “Les-Tah” on the front could not watch any more.
He turned away from the pitch and faced the rear of the main stand, where Leicester’s Thai owners were grouped together, smiling and wearing their club’s home shirts. Leicester manager Nigel Pearson, who has preferred a more elevated position in the stands for the past 12 months, was up there too.
Leicester’s Argentine striker Leanardo Ulloa stepped up. He had already seen his cool-headed but immobile compatriot Esteban Cambiasso score on his home debut to make the scoreline an implausible 3-3.
The man with his back to the pitch closed his eyes until a huge roar confirmed his wish. Then he hugged his son, an intense embrace of delight. Leicester City really had come from 3-1 down to lead United 5-3.
Amid the flurry of goals, 29,000 Leicester fans hollered “we want six”, a song that spread as far as the more conservative souls in the main stand.
They were buzzing with a game that they would remember long after they walked away from the stadium. Their team, with two former United players in the starting XI and seven former Old Trafford players on their books, had recorded a historic victory – gone man to man, diamond against diamond, and triumphed.
Their fans had sung “you’re not singing anymore” to the 3,000 travelling Manchester United fans.
Truth was, the United fans were in fine voice for the first hour as their side dominated an incredible game between two sides so bent on attacking that the game entertained for all 96 minutes before referee Mark Clattenburg blew his well used whistle one final time.
United’s rejuvenation appeared to be continuing as they eased into a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes, with Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria goals, the latter an outrageous scoop over goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Louis van Gaal dropped Juan Mata for the first time this season to accommodate his three striking R’s: Rooney, Robin and Radamel. The decision initially appeared vindicated, United were delightful with Di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao all involved in the goals, but Leicester hit back within a minute of United’s second, the fleet-footed Jamie Vardy crossing to Ulloa and a powerful header.
United never stopped looking vulnerable in defence and Leicester never stopped adding to a game with their intent to attack.
When United made it 3-1 with a 56th-minute Ander Herrera back-heel, a second consecutive win seemed assured. It was not.
Despite a two-goal advantage United failed to kill the game, failed to keep possession. They allowed Leicester to strike again, and again, and again, and again.
David Nugent (penalty on 61 minutes), Cambiasso (63) and Vardy (78) made it two, three and four. Vardy was playing non-league in front of 170 fans for Stocksbridge Park Steels in England’s eighth tier four years ago.
He played a part in a penalty that would lead to a fifth. United were in defensive disarray, their fans had long stopped singing “Attack, attack, attack”.
It was Leicester, not United, who had taken that advice and United’s defence were incapable of stopping them.
REPORT CARD
Leicester City – They had a bit of luck, but deserved the win. Local headlines will focus on their attackers, but central defenders Wes Morgan and Liam Moore played Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie well. 8/10
Manchester United – Failed to kill the game and keep possession at key moments after goals. Injury and ill fortune did not help but that is no excuse for twice being two goals up and still losing the game. 6/10
Man of the match
Jamie Vardy – Fast and aggressive, he has enjoyed an incredible rise from non-league to being the stand-out player against the 20-time Premier League champions.
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