Last-minute goal leaves United further behind at the top

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Jesse Lingard in action with Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel before hitting the post Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

LEICESTER CITY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Dec 23 (Reuters)- Manchester United fell further behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League when defender Harry Maguire scored in the final minute of added time to earn Leicester City a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

They were left 13 points behind their irrepressible neighbours at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action REUTERS/Darren Staples

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez combined for Vardy's 50th Premier League goal in the 27th minute, the Algerian holding up Wilfred Ndidi's pass for Vardy to score.

Juan Mata equalised before halftime after Jesse Lingard touched Anthony Martial's cross to him, then scored with a direct free kick.

Leicester looked doomed when they had substitute Daniel Amartey sent off only 17 minutes after he came on, for two yellow cards in quick succession.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's David De Gea looks dejected after Leicester City's second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

But in the fourth minute of added time England defender Maguire slid in Marc Albrighton's cross.

United manager Jose Mourinho was left cursing "childish" errors at both ends of the pitch.

"We didn't win because we missed incredible chances, joke chances," he told Sky Sports.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi REUTERS/Darren Staples

"We made a big defensive accumulation of mistakes in an easy match to win. I told to the players at halftime when it was 1-1 that it was an easy match to win.

"Half an hour after our second it is a game to finish four, five, six-one.

"We were punished by our mistakes. Childish loss of possession, so easy. Childish in their box and childish in our box."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

The worst of the wasted chances he referred to were set up in the second half by Romelu Lukaku but frittered away by his team mates.

The Belgian put through first Martial, who fired wildly over the bar, and then Lingard, also clean through, who could only hit a post.

That led to an anxious last few minutes even against 10 men.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action REUTERS/Darren Staples

Defender Chris Smalling was injured and in no position to clear when Maguire got on the end of Albrighton's cross to the far post.

For the first goal Phil Jones had been lured out of position and could not catch Vardy as the England striker raced onto Mahrez's pass.

For Leicester it was nevertheless a spirited recovery to continue their good form under new manager Claude Puel.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Juan Mata applauds the fans after being substituted REUTERS/Darren Staples

"The manager has come in and results have picked up," said Maguire.

"Last-minute goal to equalise, that is massive for us.

"It feels like a victory but it is only a point against a good side."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Juan Mata celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

(Reporting by Steve Tongue; Editing by Rex Gowar)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Ander Herrera in action with Leicester City's Harry Maguire REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Leicester City's Daniel Amartey is sent off as Leicester City manager Claude Puel looks on Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Leicester City's Wes Morgan looks dejected after Manchester United's second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Juan Mata celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Manchester United's Nemanja Matic in action with Leicester City's Jamie Vardy Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City vs Manchester United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 23, 2017 Leicester City's Christian Fuchs in action with Manchester United's Juan Mata Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers