MANY fans had turned up at Selhurst Park expecting to see Eddie Nketiah make a goalscoring start for Crystal Palace.
Instead, the former Arsenal striker – signed for £25million – was upstaged by his team-mate Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored twice, including a 92nd-minute penalty.
It capped an amazing comeback by Palace who were 2-0 down seconds after the interval.
France Olympic striker Mateta must have ice running through his veins as he cooly converted that late, late spot-kick in the South London cauldron.
It was a kick in the teeth for Leicester but there was no doubt about the penalty after veteran Conor Coady panicked and brought down Ismaila Sarr.
It means both clubs are still searching for their first league win of the season.
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy, who turns 38 in January, had put Leicester ahead in vintage fashion.
Now captaining the visitors, Vardy has lost none of his swagger and cheekiness as he showed by celebrating his second goal of the campaign in front of the Holmesdale End.
Not that anyone was in danger of ever missing the ex-England forward and his florescent orange footwear.
The goal was enough to send Leicester – head-to-toe in Real Madrid-like white – to another draw, adding to the point they earned from their opening fixture with Spurs.
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Another old timer could have given the Foxes a dream start after only five minutes but ex-Palace favourite Jordan Ayew, 33, fluffed his big chance, created by Wilfred Ndidi.
Ayew, who spent six years with Palace, volleyed the inviting cross into the ground and over the bar from close range.
Vardy showed him and his team-mates how to should be done by scoring in the 21st minute after rounding keeper Dean Henderson and defender Marc Guehi to tap in.
He was put clear by the excellent Ndidi and celebrated in front of irate Palace fans, comically demanding they acknowledge his brilliance before being hugged by Stephy Mavididi.
England defender Guehi often endured a nightmare time trying to control Vardy, and he did not not look his usual cool self alongside new central defensive partner Maxence Lacroix, making his debut.
Vardy, indeed, almost came close to putting the game to bed before half-time but poor finishing from Mavididi let him down.
While everyone could not help being mesmerised by Vardy, in contrast Nketiah often looked out of sorts on his Palace debut, playing in a deep-lying role on the right side of midfield.
It took him 20 minutes to have his first shot on target, a left-foot effort from the edge of the box that was comfortably saved by Mads Hermansen.
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When Palace did threaten, Belgium international defender Wout Faes was on hand to clear the danger, once blocking an effort with a superb challenge.
Mavididi needed only 20 seconds following the interval to make up for the glaring miss when he scored with a sharp volley after being set up by Ndidi following good work by right-back James Justin.
But Palace were given a lifeline by VAR in the 47th minute.
Striker Mateta touched in Tyrick Mitchell’s centre only for a linesman to rule it out for offside.
However, video referee Andy Madley disagreed after a long check and awarded the Frenchman his first league goal of the season.
That finish pumped up the Palace fans and the team also responded as they hunted an unlikely equaliser.
Palace were certainly helped by the half-time introduction of Will Hughes for the crocked Cheick Doucoure and his combative presence stopped Ndidi having his own way in midfield.
Nketiah, handed Ayew’s old No9 shirt, almost did manage a goal on his Palace debut but his snap shot from the right side of the box flew just wide of the goal in the 68th minute.
On their last visit to London, Leicester had crashed at Fulham but they appeared to have a new steeliness about them on this occasion.
As the match wore on, Nketiah switched to the left and, at one point, demanded more noise from home fans.
With 14 minutes remaining, Leicester boss Steve Cooper subbed man-of-the-match Ndidi who had nothing left in the tank and was on a yellow card.
Ayew was then replaced and he was given a tremendous ovation by home fans and even got a handshake from Palace manager Oliver Glasner.
Palace pressed and pressed looking for that equaliser and they got it when substitute Coady brought down Sarr with only seconds remaining.
Up stepped Mateta to slide the ball low to Hermansen’s left to cap a great fightback and ensure Cooper is still waiting for that elusive first Foxes win.
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