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Spurs lose at Leicester after more VAR drama

Tottenham's eight-month long wait for a Premier League away win continued after a controversial 2-1 loss at Leicester on Saturday.

James Maddison's fine strike completed the comeback for Leicester after they went 1-0 down, but Tottenham were left to rue the intervention of VAR after throwing away a winning position for the second time this week.

Mauricio Pochettino's men faced a tricky trip to the King Power after letting a 2-0 lead slip to Olympiakos to draw 2-2 in the Champions League in midweek and defeat here was their third in seven league matches this season.

"If we score the second the game is over," Pochettino said. "It gives belief to a team that could have been dead.

"It is true to concede two goals every game makes it difficult to win."

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Harry Kane gave Tottenham the lead with his fifth of the season before Ricardo Pereira equalised but only after the visitors were denied a second in contentious circumstances.

Spurs thought they had gone 2-0 up through Serge Aurier, only for VAR to claim Son Heung-Min was fractionally offside before Leicester hit back. Pereira netted first and then Maddison's sensational effort from distance was enough for Brendan Rodgers' men.

"That is what Leicester is all about. We are a top side -- we have to be seen as one now. Nobody will want to come here and play us," Maddison said.

"We are showing we are a real threat here. People moan what VAR takes away from the game but if they rule goals out like that we'll be happy. It adds to it.

"If I am going to take my game to the next level, I need to be scoring goals so I was happy to see that one go in."

Maddison brought the first chance in a lively start to the game when he brilliantly jinked his way through the Tottenham defence, only to hit the ball straight at Paulo Gazzaniga.

The Tottenham No.2 was in for Hugo Lloris, whose wife is due to give birth, and Leicester thought they had opened the scoring on 15 minutes after the stand-in goalkeeper's howler.

  

Gazzaniga spilled Youri Tielemans' weak shot and Wilfred Ndidi tucked home the rebound, only for VAR to reveal he was offside and the goal ruled out.

Tottenham then took the lead against the run of play with a superb piece of inspiration from Kane on 29 minutes. He was bundled over as he charged into the area but as he fell to the ground, managed to stick his leg out and divert the ball past Kasper Schmeichel to the delight of the travelling Spurs supporters.

Gazzaniga looked shaky at times but was alert to deny Ayoze Perez before the break and then did well to make a decent from Jamie Vardy 10 minutes after the restart before Son fired wide at the other end.

Aurier thought he had made it 2-0 on 67 minutes when his deflected effort went in but after a lengthy VAR delay, it was ruled that Son was offside in the build up although replays showed the decision could have gone either way.

Minutes later, it was 1-1 when Vardy's cross drifted across the box and Pereira hammered home, before Maddison's fine effort deepened the gloom on Pochettino five minutes from time.

"It's what happens with VAR, you have to get your head round it," Leicester manager Rodgers said. "It works for you and against you. Worked both ways for us today."

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