Mateta on hand to earn persistent Crystal Palace a point against feisty Foxes

Crystal Palace 2 Leicester City 2

Crystal Palace eventually ensured that for all their possession in the world, it can sometimes take until the last breaths to avoid defeat.

Consequently, both Oliver Glasner's side and Leicester City are still looking for their first win of the Premier League season after this entertaining draw at Selhurst Park.

Until Jean Philippe Mateta's late spot kick - the second of his two strikes - to grab a point, the Eagles were outfoxed, cut open by their own deficiencies on two occasions, as Steve Cooper's men showed grit on their travels to the capital.

Leicester went in front with a proper piece of enterprise by Jamie Vardy with 20 minutes gone, before Stephy Mavididi nabbed a second just after the interval. And while Palace halved the deficit through Mateta and asked the questions, the Foxes stood impressively firm - until a moment of rashness from Conor Coady to concede the late penalty. Steve Cooper's men were so close to victory, too.

Unleashed

On a sun-soaked late summer's day in South London, was this the time for a changing Eagles' side to be unleashed? A deserved point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend had set them up reasonably well for this test.

Certainly, in the case of Eddie Nketiah, the lavish close season signing from Arsenal. It took a cool £25m to prise the forward away from Arsenal - and he received a rapturous welcome from the home fans before kick off. There is much anticipation regarding what the England cap can do in this part of London.

Nevertheless, Palace were caught out in early midfield tussles and Foxes' Wilfred Ndidi was the forager-in-chief.

As early as the fourth minute, the midfielder laid a golden chance on a plate for ex-Palace star Jordan Ayew, only for the latter to tamely shoot over from around eight yards out.

If that was an obvious warning shot across the Palace bows, the hosts paid scant attention, for Leicester went ahead in fine fashion.

Ndidi won the ball impressively in the middle of the pitch before choosing a long, raking pass into the path of Vardy, who easily outpaced struggling Marc Guehi before rounding Eagles' keeper Dean Henderson to tuck home.

Glasner's outfit responded positively enough, with plenty of industry and carried intermittent threats at the behest of Ebere Eze. The Palace playmaker was, naturally, at the centre of most moves, but his over-elaboration inside the Leicester six yard area after 34 minutes nearly provided a leveller.

Leicester almost doubled their lead on the stoke of half time when Vardy made headway on the counter attack, before laying on an inviting pass for Mavididi who could only manage to shoot wide.

A rather eventful start to the second half ensued with a goal at each end amid fierce exchanges.

Stunned

The Foxes stunned the majority of the Selhurst crowd by adding a second goal a minute after the break.

James Justin whipped in a cross from the right which Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne made a complete mess of clearing - and Mavididi was perfectly primed to lash a right footed shot from close range into the net.

Fortunately for the hosts, they responded in the 49th minute, with the help of VAR and Mateta. The bustling Eagles' striker was just onside, as he turned the ball home from a Tyrick Mitchell cross from the left wing. Finally, Palace were able to turn their possession into something substantial.

Nketiah showed his attributes when he fired inches wide when fastening on a to neat assist by another close season recruit, Palace substitute Daichi Kamada, who made a decent impact.

Predictably, most of the Eagles' forays during the latter stages of the second half were being funnelled through Eze. However, Steve Cooper's men showed fine organisation and resilience for the most part - until the final minute of normal time.

Drama ensued, when Palace were awarded a clear penalty - Foxes' substitute Coady upended Ismaila Sarr. Mateta stepped up for the responsibility, and was the coolest man in the sunshine, slotting home to earn the Eagles a point in a feisty clash which looked like running away from them.

Eagles: Henderson, Mitchell (Schlupp 88), Lacroix, Guehi, Nketiah, Eze, Munoz, Mateta, Clyne (Kamada 63), Wharton, Doucoure (Hughes 46)