Leicester powers through late drama to keep title dream intact

A manic half-hour of football, and a sequence of poor officiating, wreaked havoc on the Premier League title race Sunday at King Power Stadium.

Despite losing scorer Jamie Vardy to a red card in the second half, Leicester City looked to hold on to a familiar 1-0 lead against West Ham United. The sending-off itself was a bit contentious - Vardy dove in the penalty box to draw a second yellow out of referee Jonathan Moss' book - but the home side would again feel aggrieved when West Ham earned a penalty with just six minutes of regular time remaining.

Related: Jamie Vardy sent off for 1st time in Leicester City career

Substitute Andy Carroll converted with ease, and suddenly this fairy tale had its witch. Moss awarded the spot-kick under debatable circumstances, as Leicester captain Wes Morgan grappled with Winston Reid. It was the first time Leicester conceded a goal in 574 minutes of play.

Just two minutes later, the defender Aaron Cresswell doubled the visitor's lead with a searing strike past helpless goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Manager Claudio Ranieri, who always maintained a facade of absolute calm, suddenly looked sunken.

Then, Moss made the strangest decision yet. As Leicester centre-back Robert Huth jostled for position inside the West Ham box, counterpart Angelo Ogbonna ringed his arm around the 31-year-old and hauled him down.

The boos rained down, and it appeared Leicester's luck finally ran out.

Except Moss delivered a makeup call in its truest and most unequivocal form.

Carroll slightly shoved Jeffrey Schlupp off the ball, and Leicester had its moment of redemption.

Without Vardy or the substituted Riyad Mahrez on the pitch, it was up to Leonardo Ulloa to step up to the spot and dispatch Leicester's 11th spot-kick of the season - a Premier League high.

"After we went behind, we showed great character. The players gave use their blood, their soul. They never give up," said Ranieri. "I'm very happy, because when you're losing in the last minute and you make a draw, it's fantastic for us psychologically."

But these Leicester supporters, who clamoured for tickets and cashed in betting slips for their 5,000-1 underdog in recent weeks, will not soon forget the officiating performance that almost cost them dearly. Moss was escorted out of the stadium, accompanied by several stewards and security.

After all that, however, Leicester is actually in better standing than it was two hours earlier. The Foxes hold an eight-point lead over nearest rival Tottenham Hotspur, which plays away to Stoke City on Monday evening.

They will have to do without Vardy next week against Swansea City, with the league's joint-top scorer set to serve at least a one-match suspension.