HARRY MAGUIRE STRUCK a stunning injury-time winner as Leicester City won 2-1 away at 10-man Southampton on Saturday.
A drab encounter had looked set to end all square after Demarai Gray cancelled out Ryan Bertrand’s fine opener on his 150th appearance for the Saints.
But Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was shown a second yellow card for a clear dive in the penalty area with 13 minutes remaining and Leicester pushed on in search of a winner.
It arrived from the right boot of England man Maguire in stoppage time as he drilled through a crowded area, beating the rooted Alex McCarthy low to his right.
Meanwhile, a thrilling 2-2 draw between Bournemouth and Everton ended in concerning fashion as Michael Keane was taken off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace following a sickening aerial collision in stoppage time.
The scorer of Everton’s second goal required oxygen following a mid-air clash with team-mate Idrissa Gueye, forcing a lengthy break in play and overshadowing what had been an eventful clash featuring two red cards.
Keane’s injury came after Bournemouth had impressively cancelled out a two-goal deficit, Joshua King converting a 75th-minute penalty and Nathan Ake prodding home an equaliser four minutes later.
Everton had earlier defied Richarlison’s first-half sending off for retaliation against Adam Smith to establish what seemed a match-winning cushion courtesy of Theo Walcott and defender Keane.
But, though Smith himself received his marching orders in between that quickfire salvo, the Cherries snapped into action to net twice in four minutes and ensure both teams remain unbeaten after their opening three Premier League fixtures.
Eddie Howe’s men appeared certain to secure a third successive victory when Richarlison was dsmissed late in the first half, the in-form winger punished for a gentle headbutt as he reacted to full-back Smith’s apparent provocation.
Everton had other ideas, though, and stunned the home crowd by scoring twice in 21 minutes after the interval, Walcott first beating Asmir Begovic at his near post before Keane doubled the lead with a fine header.
The goals came either side of a Smith red card for pulling back Walcott that had seemed set to condemn the Cherries to defeat, only for another unlikely comeback to be mounted courtesy of King – converting a penalty won by Callum Wilson – and Ake, who bundled home at point-blank range shortly before Keane’s injury cast the contest into a negative light.
Finally, Jonathan Hogg saw red as Huddersfield Town’s poor start to the season continued with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Premier League new boys Cardiff City.
Huddersfield’s home form proved vital to their survival last term, but the Terriers — who conceded nine goals over the course of their opening two fixtures — lacked the clinical edge to overcome Cardiff’s stubborn rearguard in the first Premier League meeting between the two sides.
And just as the hosts had started to click into gear in the second half — Neil Etheridge having denied Steve Mounie an opener — Hogg’s rash headbutt on Harry Arter handed Cardiff the impetus with 63 minutes played.
Cardiff could not craft an opening despite their numerical advantage, though, substitute Jonas Lossl pulling off a fine stop to deny Danny Ward a winner.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
