Sky Bet Championship
Saturday 13 September 2025
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 2
(Lankshear 9’, Soumare OG 44’)
Leicester City… 2
(Ayew 13’, Pereira 56’)
Oxford United battled to another 2-2 draw at the Kassam Stadium, gaining another valuable point against Leicester City.
First half goals from Will Lankshear and a Boubakary Soumare own goal twice gave Oxford United the lead against ten-man Leicester City, who saw Aaron Ramsey sent off for a challenge on Filip Krastev.
Ricardo Periera’s second half goal levelled the scores at 2-2 to see the points shared between both sides.
United got off to a flying start, coming out straight from kick off to attack the former Premier League winning side.
They were rewarded inside nine minutes, with Will Lankshear getting his third goal in five appearances. A volley from Matt Phillips was parried by Jakub Stolarczyk to Michal Helik who cut it back across goal for the on-loan Tottenham striker to pass home.
Unfortunately, the visitors got back into four minutes later. A back pass by Cameron Brannagan was read by Jordan Ayew, and the experienced striker took advantage to slam the ball past Jamie Cumming.
United were not undone and remained the better side, almost retaking the lead with a Przemyslaw Placheta wonder goal, but his curling effort from 20 yards hit the underside of the bar and didn’t end up over the line.
Leicester’s best chance of the half fell to Aaron Ramsey on 23 minutes, curling a shot from the corner of the box which was saved by Cumming. As the ball was cleared, Ramsey then clattered into debut boy Filip Krastev and was shown a straight red card.
Oxford’s domination only intensified at this point, and before half time the second did arrive. This time it was a corner from the right which found the had of Ben Davies, and his header deflected off Boubakary Soumare and into the net.
Into the second period and United continued to push – Brian De Keersmaecker seeing a strong effort just fly wide inside five minutes.
Leicester did get back on terms on the 55th minute, with half time substitute Ricardo Pereira equalising. Good link up between the Portuguese right-back and Abdul Fatawa set up the opportunity, and Periera firmly sent the ball into the bottom left corner.
Despite the extra man, the game was even, both in terms of the scoreline and the match action. Ayew had become more of a threat and curled a shot just wide five minutes later, while Lankshear had two penalty appeals turned down.
Neither team managed to carve out an opportunity as both teams battled to find the winner. A point in the end and further signs of progress for Gary Rowett’s side, with eight days now to the next fixture away to Bristol City.
Oxford United: Cuming, Long, Helik, Placheta (Mills 72’), Brannagan, Phillips, De Keersmaecker, Currie (Dembele 87’), Lankshear (M. Harris 87’), Davies, Krastev (Prelec 72’)
Subs Not Used: Ingram, Vaulks, Spencer, Goodrham
Leicester City: Stolarczyk, Okoli, Fatawu (Daka 74’), Ayew, Mavididi (Pereira 46’), Choudhruy (James 77’) Skipp, Vestergaard, Soumare (Winks 46’), Ramsey, Thomas
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Faes, Decordova-Reid, Carranza, Monga
Attendance: 11,362
50/50 Number: 63844. Prize Money: £1,201.50
