- Wilfred Ndidi recorded two assists in Leicester's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace
- Leicester was denied victory by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stoppage-time penalty
- Ndidi lamented his frustration with the result despite his solid performance
In a thrilling match at Selhurst Park, Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City delivered a superb performance, notching two assists that saw him surpass Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha’s Premier League assist record.
Despite Ndidi's heroics, Leicester was held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace on Saturday, September 14, courtesy of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stoppage-time penalty. The result may not have been what Leicester hoped for, but Ndidi’s play stood out.
The scepticism surrounding Ndidi's deployment in a more advanced midfield role instead of a traditional defensive midfielder was quickly silenced by his stellar first-half performance.
In the 18th minute, he seized on a loose ball from Adam Wharton and played a perfectly weighted pass to Jamie Vardy, who comfortably slotted past Dean Henderson to give Leicester the lead.
Ndidi’s vision and precision were once again on display moments into the second half when he laid off a delicate pass for Mavididi to volley home after a cross wasn’t properly cleared, doubling Leicester’s advantage.
However, Crystal Palace fought back, with Mateta reducing the deficit shortly after the second goal.
In the dying moments of the game, Mateta struck again, converting a penalty to deny Leicester City their first Premier League win of the season. The Foxes now have a dismal record in London, having won just two of their last 17 league outings in the capital, conceding 42 goals along the way.
Despite the frustrating draw, Ndidi’s performance was a bright spot. The Nigerian midfielder now boasts three assists this season, more than any of his Leicester teammates.
His latest two contributions took his Premier League assist tally to 12, overtaking Okocha’s record of 10 assists during his time with Bolton Wanderers. Nwankwo Kanu remains the Nigerian player with the most Premier League assists at 33.
During his post-match interview, Ndidi focused on the team’s performance rather than individual accolades.
“I always want to give my best for the team,” he said, It was very disappointing because we know we almost had it, so it was really disappointing. The result does not reflect the performance.”
Ndidi also commented on the unpredictable nature of the Premier League, acknowledging the spirited fightback from Crystal Palace,
“This is the Premier League, and anything can happen at any moment. You could see the fight that Crystal Palace had and what they were trying to do in the game. We actually did brilliantly staying in the game after the first goal they scored.”
Carabao Cup: 2 African foxes show Tranmere Rovers they are now in a bigger league
Previously, TheRadar reported that Wilfred Ndidi played a key role in Leicester City's dominant 4-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the second round of the EFL Cup. The Nigerian midfielder scored the third goal of the match, capping off a brilliant team move that involved an assist from his African brother Jordan Ayew, who had earlier put Leicester ahead in the first half.
