Brentford produced a terrific fightback from 2-0 behind to secure a point against Leicester in a thrilling match at the King Power Stadium.
A header by Belgium defender Timothy Castagne opened the scoring for the Foxes, the only Premier League club not to have signed a player in the summer transfer window so far.
Leicester were the dominant side in the first half with Youri Tielemans hitting the post before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall doubled the lead 25 seconds into the second half.
Brentford hit back when Ivan Toney scored from close range after a move that started when Leicester lost possession from a throw-in.
Toney wasted a great chance to equalise when he headed wide after Leicester’s Wesley Fofana nodded against the post at the other end.
But Brentford were not done as Josh Dasilva, one of five substitutes used by Thomas Frank, struck an 86th-minute equaliser after cutting inside on to his left foot, starting the Bees’ second successive season in the top flight with a point.
Leicester let two points slip
There is so much talent running through this Leicester team but there have been suggestions that momentum could be waning after a dormant summer in the transfer market so far.
The Foxes have not spent a penny but have lost a legend after Kasper Schmeichel – their Premier League and FA Cup winning keeper – joined Nice, while Newcastle target James Maddison and Chelsea target Fofana are wanted elsewhere.
The way Leicester gave up a 2-0 lead will only increase calls for Brendan Rodgers, who has been linked with a loan move for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, to strengthen his squad before the 1 September deadline.
“Obviously you want to strengthen the squad and add depth and quality,” Rodgers told BBC Sport afterwards.
“But on the other side of that you can still have cohesion within your performance and I think you saw that for large parts of the game.”
Leicester looked certain to make a winning start after Dewsbury-Hall’s super finish added to Castagne’s opening goal.
They started with a real flourish but by the end they were fortunate not to lose as Brentford came back strongly in the second half.
The concern for Rodgers is that this was a real opportunity to make a solid start.
But it will feel like two points dropped, with matches to follow against Arsenal (away), Chelsea (away) and Manchester United (home) between now and 1 September.
Bees show fighting spirit
Brentford finished last season – their first in England’s top flight since 1946-47 – in 13th spot, aided largely by the signing of Christian Eriksen.
His departure has left a large void but Brentford are clearly not lacking confidence or belief judging by this performance.
They started last season with a statement win over Arsenal and the way they came back to secure a point against an experienced Leicester side will give them a lift going into the rest of the campaign.
There were contrasting fortunes for two of Brentford’s debutants in the starting line-up.
While Ben Mee was at fault for the second goal and replaced in the 59th minute, 20-year-old Aaron Hickey – a £17m signing from Bologna – produced a performance to suggest he could be another shrewd signing for the Bees.
Frank celebrated with Dasilva, who has endured a series of injury problems, on the pitch in front of the travelling fans after the final whistle.
“I am very emotional about it [Dasilva scoring],” said Frank. “I have been working with him for four years. He is a fantastic person and he produced a moment we know he can produce.”
Player of the match
HickeyAaron Hickey
Leicester City
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Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall
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Squad number27Player nameCastagne
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Squad number10Player nameMaddison
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
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Squad number3Player nameFofana
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Squad number1Player nameWard
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Squad number2Player nameJustin
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Squad number6Player nameEvans
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Squad number25Player nameNdidi
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Squad number9Player nameVardy
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Squad number18Player nameAmartey
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Squad number20Player nameDaka
Brentford
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Squad number2Player nameHickey
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Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
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Squad number21Player nameDervisoglu
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Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter
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Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
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Squad number17Player nameToney
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number16Player nameMee
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Squad number18Player nameJansson
Line-ups
Leicester
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 1Ward
- 3Fofana
- 6Evans
- 18Amartey
- 27Castagne
- 22Dewsbury-HallSubstituted forDakaat 73′minutes
- 25Ndidi
- 8Tielemans
- 2Justin
- 10Maddison
- 9Vardy
Substitutes
- 4Söyüncü
- 11Albrighton
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 20Daka
- 24Mendy
- 26Praet
- 31Iversen
- 33Thomas
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 2HickeySubstituted forBech Sørensenat 84′minutes
- 18Jansson
- 16MeeSubstituted forLewis-Potterat 59′minutes
- 3Henry
- 27Janelt
- 6NørgaardSubstituted forBaptisteat 73′minutes
- 8JensenSubstituted forDasilvaat 59′minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
- 11WissaSubstituted forDervisogluat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Dasilva
- 15Onyeka
- 21Dervisoglu
- 22Strakosha
- 23Lewis-Potter
- 26Baptiste
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
- 33Stevens
- Referee:
- Jarred Gillett
- Attendance:
- 31,794
Live Text
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Match ends, Leicester City 2, Brentford 2.
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Second Half ends, Leicester City 2, Brentford 2.
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Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Timothy Castagne.
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Attempt missed. Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Josh Dasilva.
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Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Amartey.
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Offside, Brentford. Vitaly Janelt tries a through ball, but Bryan Mbeumo is caught offside.
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Offside, Leicester City. Youri Tielemans tries a through ball, but Wesley Fofana is caught offside.
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James Maddison (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Josh Dasilva (Brentford).
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Goal! Leicester City 2, Brentford 2. Josh Dasilva (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.
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Attempt blocked. Halil Dervisoglu (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Toney.
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Foul by Timothy Castagne (Leicester City).
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Shandon Baptiste (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Brentford. Mads Bech Sørensen tries a through ball, but Ivan Toney is caught offside.
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Substitution, Brentford. Halil Dervisoglu replaces Yoane Wissa.
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Substitution, Brentford. Mads Bech Sørensen replaces Aaron Hickey.
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Foul by Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).
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Josh Dasilva (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by James Maddison (Leicester City).
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