• Leicester 5-3 Manchester United

United humiliated by Leicester fightback

Jamie Vardy wheels away after completing Leicester's stunning comeback against Manchester United © Getty Images

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Jamie Vardy was the hero as Leicester City twice came from two goals down to beat Manchester United in an enthralling 5-3 win at the King Power Stadium.

Locked at three-apiece on 79 minutes, Vardy suddenly found himself through on goal after being found by former United defender Ritchie De Laet before slotting past David De Gea.

Match Analysis

• Man of the match: Plenty of candidates, but Jamie Vardy was a menace to United throughout and thoroughly deserved his goal. Esteban Cambiasso also deserves a mention for dictating the game from midfield.
• Villain: United were again found wanting in defence - and Rafael and Tyler Blackett both gave away silly penalties to allow Leicester back into it.
• Key moment: At 3-3, substitute Juan Mata slipped and allowed Leicester to break away to take the lead. Could that be his final act as a Manchester United player?
• Alex Perry

Two minutes later, Vardy broke free again, only to be scythed down by Tyler Blackett - who was shown a red card for his efforts. Leonardo Ulloa slotted home the penalty to complete the astonishing victory.

It had all looked so rosy for United manager Louis van Gaal, who handed deadline day signing Radamel Falcao a first start for his new club.

Just 12 minutes in and Falcao was already making the difference - turning De Laet well before finding strike partner Robin van Persie with an inch-perfect cross for 1-0.

Angel Di Maria made it two with a neat one-two with Wayne Rooney before a delicious lob left Kasper Schmeichel with no chance, but Leicester's new goal machine Ulloa pulled one back immediately with his fourth of the season.

Falcao hit the bar shortly after the break with a sublime volley before Ander Herrera turned in Di Maria's scuffed effort with a cheeky backheel to restore the visitors' two-goal lead.

But then the comeback began, first with a David Nugent penalty after Rafael brought down Vardy, then a neat finish from Esteban Cambiasso - the most decorated player on the field despite United's numerous record signings.

Vardy, who three years ago today was playing for then non-league side Fleetwood Town at Kidderminster Harriers, coolly finished for 4-3 before Ulloa's second from the spot.

Angel Di Maria had put United 2-0 up with a sublime lob © Getty Images

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The defeat brought Van Gaal back down to earth following his first victory against Queens Park Rangers last week. Much work clearly has to be done if he is to achieve his target of a top-three finish.

QPR dropped deep and allowed United to come at them last week, but Van Gaal's men were not afforded the same luxury at the King Power Stadium as Leicester pressed from the first whistle.

Jonny Evans denied Ulloa twice early on, first with a clever header and then with a fine block, which clearly hurt the centre-back.

It did not take long for Di Maria to start causing trouble at the other end though. He drove at the Leicester defence and slotted Van Persie in behind, but Schmeichel ran out and blocked the Dutchman's shot.

United were now in full flow. They looked particularly venomous down the left, where Marcos Rojo and Di Maria were proving far too quick for De Laet.

The former United right-back dived in and allowed Falcao, who started ahead of Juan Mata, to turn the ball past him in the 12th minute. Falcao paused and chipped a pin-point cross to Van Persie, whose header flew past Schmeichel off Liam Moore.

Just three minutes later, Di Maria doubled the lead with an early contender for goal of the season. He sprinted from inside his own half and picked a return ball up off Rooney before he scooped the ball over Schmeichel with his left boot.

Van Gaal rose to his feet to commend the £59.7 million signing.

Just 72 seconds later the United boss was cursing his defence as they allowed Leicester back into the game. Vardy got to the byline and whipped in a flat ball to the back post where Ulloa powered a header past De Gea.

United suffered a couple of injury problems before the break. Evans, still struggling after blocking Ulloa's early shot, hobbled off and was replaced by Chris Smalling.

Di Maria also needed his wrist strapped after he was brushed off the ball by De Laet.

There was no sign of the impending meltdown in the rest of the first half. Smalling, Daley Blind and Blackett all looked sturdy at the back.

United should have had their third just before the break when Rojo headed over from four yards.

Within three minutes of the restart Falcao had rattled the bar with a fine volley.

Herrera went one better in the 57th minute, as he turned the ball in to make it 3-1. The Spaniard cleverly flicked Rooney's goal-bound shot past Schmeichel from six yards after Rafael caused havoc in the box with a wicked low cross

The Brazilian quickly went from hero to villain though as he gave away a contentious penalty at the other end.

Vardy barged Rafael off the ball down Leicester's left and the defender lost his cool, nudging over the forward in the box.

Mark Clattenburg ignored United's protestations and pointed to the spot. Nugent blasted the ball down the middle past De Gea to score.

Within two minutes, United's defence went to pieces again and Leicester equalised.

Dean Hammond, given plenty of space on the edge of the box, saw his shot blocked in the centre of the area where Cambiasso pounced, stabbing the ball past De Gea.

Van Gaal slumped further into his seat with 12 minutes left when Leicester, amazingly, took the lead.

De Laet nicked the ball off Mata, who had just come on for Di Maria, and cantered down the left back before finding the unmarked Vardy, who calmly beat De Gea.

Yet more shocking defending was to come from the visitors. Vardy easily nudged Blackett aside and raced towards the box, only to be brought down by the young centre-half with an awful tackle from behind.

Mark Clattenburg had no option but to send Blackett off. Ulloa beat De Gea from 12 yards to seal Leicester's fairytale victory.

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