Premier League: Ulloa rescues 10-man Leicester

Leicester City’s Leonardo Ulloa (left) exults after scoring the equaliser against West Ham in their English Premier League match at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Sunday. The match ended 2-2. (Photo: AFP)

Leicester’s Premier League title challenge was plunged into chaos as Leonardo Ulloa rescued a dramatic 2-2 draw against West Ham after Jamie Vardy was controversially sent off on Sunday.

Claudio Ranieri’s leaders looked destined for a damaging defeat at the King Power Stadium after late goals from Andy Carroll and Aaron Cresswell put the Hammers ahead following Vardy’s dismissal for diving.

Referee Jonathan Moss’s decision to give Vardy, who had opened the scoring in the first half, a second booking incensed the Leicester fans and they were even more irate when he awarded West Ham the penalty that Carroll converted to equalise.

But with just seconds remaining, Moss made another crucial decision and this time it went Leicester’s way as he gave a soft penalty that substitute Ulloa drilled home to leave the Foxes eight points clear of second placed Tottenham.

It summed up the astonishing nature of the finale that Moss was still booed off despite his late gift to Leicester, whose lead at the top will be cut to five points with four games remaining if Tottenham win at Stoke on Monday.

Sturridge stars in Liverpool win In Bournemouth, Daniel Sturridge provided more evidence his fitness problems are behind him after an injury-scarred season, setting up Roberto Firmino’s opening goal before adding the second in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.

The England striker proved to be the difference with Sturridge’s header in first-half added-time putting Liverpool in control five minutes after Firmino had opened the scoring.

That allowed Jurgen Klopp’s side to survive a late Bournemouth rally after Joshua King’s stoppage-time reply towards full-time.

On Saturday, Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win away to Chelsea as Manchester City rounded off a memorable week in style.

Victory against the soon-to-be-deposed Premier League title-holders came just days after City reached the semi-finals of the Champions League by knocking out fellow big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain.

Aguero was aided repeatedly by the excellent Kevin De Bruyne, with the former Chelsea midfielder impressive on his first Premier League return to Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian played a key part in two of Aguero’s goals either side of half-time.