Remembering City’s Epic Triumph Over Man Utd

Leicester's Premier League return was less than two months old when they stunned Louis van Gaal's United on 21 September, 2014. Nigel Pearson’s newly-promoted Foxes, meanwhile, had started the 2014/15 season brightly, beating Stoke City, drawing at home to Everton and Arsenal too, however this game would be their toughest test yet.

Not only were they competing in the top flight for the first time in over a decade, but they were also coming up against a team with international quality across the pitch, including Robin van Persie, Ángel Di María and Radamel Falcao.

Expand photo

Nugent's penalty gave the Foxes hope, but the odds were still against the home side.

The visitors raced into a two-goal lead with Van Persie and Di María both on the scoresheet within the first quarter of an hour. The Dutch forward’s header, assisted by Falcao, was bettered by a stunning chip from United’s British record signing, who, after a one-two with Wayne Rooney, scooped the ball over Kasper Schmeichel from just inside the area.

City, unperturbed by their illustrious opponents’ fast start to the game, responded immediately thanks to Leonardo Ulloa’s header, assisted by Jamie Vardy, which ended the scoring in the first-half.

However, when Ander Herrera regained United’s two-goal advantage with a silky back-heel just before the hour-mark, there looked to be little chance of Pearson’s side getting back into the game.

Expand photo

Pandemonium on Filbert Way as Cambiasso levels the scores at 3-3.

But they found a way, firstly reducing the deficit once more as Rafael brought down Vardy in the box, handing the Foxes a lifeline. David Nugent stepped up and emphatically smashed the resulting penalty home, scoring his 50th league goal for the Club in the process.

Argentine Esteban Cambiasso - making his home debut - then scored his first City goal to bring the scores level just two minutes later, striking a low drive into the bottom corner of the net, sparking jubilant celebrations. 

Leicester weren’t done there and, willed on by around 30,000 Foxes supporters, they grabbed what looked to be the winner with 10 minutes remaining. Ritchie de Laet won back possession and picked out Vardy to calmly score his first-ever Premier League goal, sparking yet wilder celebrations from the Blue Army.

Expand photo

Vardy emerges on the Premier League scene to win the game for Leicester.

Vardy continued to cause mayhem for Van Gaal’s backline as Tyler Blackett saw red for taking the striker down and conceded another penalty in the process. In Nugent's absence, after he was substituted, Ulloa took the spot-kick and converted for his second of the game, securing a magnificent three points for Leicester - the Club’s maiden home victory of the season. 

Not since March 2000 had a Leicester side scored five times in a Premier League game - on that day it came against Sunderland - just one of the incredible stats from the game. And it was back in 1963 when City last found the net at least four times against United in a league fixture.

The result moved City up to the fifth in the early standings and they would go on to perform a 'Great Escape', remaining in the Premier League by winning seven of their last nine games at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.