Wrexham denied! Red Dragons waste chance to move to cusp of Championship playoff places as Leicester snatch late point

Wrexham denied! Red Dragons waste chance to move to cusp of Championship playoff places as Leicester snatch late point

Wrexham missed the chance to move within touching distance of the Championship play-offs on Tuesday after being denied victory by Leicester.

Lewis O’Brien looked set to secure all three points for the Welsh side, but Jannik Vestergaard struck in the 90th minute to level the score, leaving the hosts frustrated as the game ended 1-1.

Wrexham denied at the death
The first half saw few clear-cut chances in wet and windy conditions, though both teams managed opportunities just before the break.

Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo reacted bravely to block a close-range effort from Bobby De Cordova-Reid, delivered by Stephy Mavididi.

Minutes later, Max Cleworth drove forward down the left and tried to set up Kieffer Moore for a tap-in, only for Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk to smother the low cross.

Wrexham came out stronger after the interval, bringing more intensity to the game. Ryan Longman and Ollie Rathbone both tested Stolarczyk but were unable to find the net.

Leicester responded quickly on the break, with Mavididi firing a low shot that Okonkwo managed to keep out. Eventually, Wrexham broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute.

Liberato Cacace surged down the left and delivered a cross for Moore, who couldn’t get a clean touch.

Stolarczyk could only parry the ball into the path of O’Brien, who slotted it into an empty net. Wrexham looked to have the game under control, with Leicester offering little threat in response.

However, drama struck in stoppage time when Leicester earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Caleb Okoli knocked the ball down to Vestergaard, who calmly converted to snatch a late point for the Foxes.

The MVP
O’Brien’s goal marked his first since September and capped a tireless performance.

His relentless running and energy in the second half were crucial in driving Wrexham forward and improving their attacking threat.

The big loser
The late Leicester goal was a blow to Wrexham’s promotion hopes. Victory would have lifted Phil Parkinson’s side into seventh place, level on points with Preston in the final play-off spot.

Instead, Vestergaard’s last-minute equaliser left Wrexham in ninth, with plenty of work still to do to keep their top-six aspirations alive.