Brighton Rescue A Point Against Leicester
Youngster Evan Ferguson scored late to earn Brighton a point after Leicester had come from behind to take the lead at King Power Stadium.
Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring for Brighton after he drifted into the midfield and swept in a stunning curled shot from outside the area for his fourth goal in six games.
Marc Albrighton, who had been on the pitch for just three minutes, tucked past Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for the equaliser after Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans saw their shots saved.
Barnes put the home side ahead when he confidently finished Luke Thomas’ header, flicked on from a corner, and for 25 second-half minutes Brendan Rodgers’ men looked like they would earn their first win in five games.
But 18-year-old Ferguson rescued a point for Europe-chasing Brighton with his third Premier League goal, when he met Pervis Estupinan’s cross to head into the far corner.
The result moves Brighton up to sixth in the league while the Foxes are 14th but just one point above the relegation places.
The Seagulls had won five games in seven coming into this tie against a struggling Leicester.
That record looked like it would be extended after Mitoma’s stunning opener, the winger is already making a name for himself and looks able to help offset the departure of Leandro Trossard to Arsenal.
However, goals from Albrighton and Barnes put the home side in charge and Leicester looked like earning their first win after four straight losses despite Brighton continuing to create openings. March tried to beat goalkeeper Danny Ward at the front post but was blocked, with Ward later saving with his knee from Alexis Mac Allister’s shot from range.
But Ferguson, who replaced Danny Welbeck on 66 minutes, was alert to Estupinan’s fizzed cross to keep his side well in contention for a European spot, an ambition manager Roberto de Zerbi made clear last week after seeing his side thrash Liverpool 3-0.
The Italian coach did however find himself in the book for his reaction after Brighton had a penalty claim waved away by both the referee and VAR.
“I think we deserved to win,” De Zerbi told BBC Match of the Day. “I think we played well. I saw the stats and it’s incredible for us.
“Mitoma scored a fantastic goal and Ferguson is an 18-year-old, Danny Welbeck played a good game. I am sorry for the result because Leicester have never been dangerous.
“They found the first goal and the second is a downfall of our set-pieces. One mistake for us,” he said.