Ndidi’s howler led to Chelsea’s opener but the Nigeria international made amends later as Chelsea and Leicester City played out a score draw on Sunday at the Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea hero Frank Lampard walked out of the tunnel at Stamford Bridge for the first time as Chelsea head coach but his side couldn’t muster the win to make it a perfect homecoming for the young manager.
Mason Mount robbed an indecisive Ndidi just at the edge of the box and placed his finish beyond Schmeichel for the opener. Only for Ndidi to rise to the occasion to head his team level midway to the second half.
GOAL! 🦸♂️ Ndidi atones for his earlier error! And we are back where we started.#CHE 1 – 1 #LEI#beINPL #CHELEI pic.twitter.com/PgzKC6F4t8
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) August 18, 2019
Chelsea started brilliantly and should have been ahead within seconds of kickoff when Olivier Giroud chested down a ball from the right which then falls kindly into the path of Pedro. The Spaniard hit it early, on the volley, but blasted it into the side-netting with plenty of fans thinking that it had gone in.
That was a clear warning but still Leicester didn’t wake up. Kasper Schmeichel had to make a save from Mason Mount and the rebound from Christian Pulisic was deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing.
Chelsea finally made the breakthrough seven minutes in and it came via a howler from Wilfred Ndidi.
Y̶e̶s̶ No Ndidi!😬 Mason Mount picks the pocket and scores his first senior goal for Chelsea!
(via: @NBCSportsSoccer) pic.twitter.com/5jxlcUSfHP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 18, 2019
Mason Mount pressed the Nigeria international, who dithered on the ball for far too long on the edge of his own area and lost possession.
Mount, who was almost falling over when he struck the ball, slot it into the bottom left corner.
It was the Englishman’s first senior goal for Chelsea.
It was all Chelsea from that point.
Pedro tricked his way into the box before laying it off to Cesar Azpilicueta, who made the overlap on the right. The full-back whipped one in and it fell to an unmarked Mason Mount in the centre.
The youngster headed it first time but there was not enough pace in it to trouble the City goalkeeper.
A rapid start from Chelsea however gave way to a drop in tempo towards the end of the half.
Leicester gradually grew into the game and it was no surprise when the equalizer arrived. Ndidi, though was the shocking goalscorer.
The Super Eagles star made up for his mistake when he rose highest to glance in routine corner for the away side’s equalizer.
GOAL Chelsea 1-1 Leicester (66 mins)
Wilfred Ndidi gets the equaliser. He rises highest in the box to head James Maddison's corner home#CHELEI
— EPLWORLD.COM ENGLISH (@EPLWorldUK) August 18, 2019
The game opened up afterwards and either side could have nicked a late winner but it was not to be as the two teams settled for a share of the spoils.
