Gianluca Vialli must have sneaked into one of those book launches and stolen Alex Ferguson's lucky injury-time watch. Chelsea's equaliser here may not quite rival Steve Bruce's infamous header against Sheffield Wednesday but on such incidents are titles won and lost.
Yet if the manner of the escape was fortuitous, the result was not. When Chelsea heads might have dropped and thoughts wandered to the post-match cappucino, they proved they are made of stern stuff; that their football can be grinding as well as blinding.
Which is no bad thing at Filbert Street. Only once have the Premiership champions won here en route to the title and they, Manchester United, were held at Old Trafford instead.
Too many draws cost Chelsea last season but for Vialli this was clearly a point gained rather than two lost. "It's not easy to play a Champions League match on Wednesday and then go to places like Leicester, Sunderland or Sheffield Wednesday, he said. "They are hard working and mentally and physically you feel tired. All teams that want to be winners must show this kind of spirit." To be winners Chelsea cannot afford to give away two goals too often but it is surely no coincidence that already they have scored six times in the last 15 minutes. Ally to their determination Vialli's rotation policy and the supreme fitness developed under Antonio Pintus and there will doubtless be more late shows.
"I was speaking with Sutty (Chris Sutton)," said Leicester's rejuvinated goalkeeper Tim Flowers, "and he was saying how hard they work. They're incredibly fit and they're also all primed tactically; they know exactly what they're doing.
"They're a very good side. The way they played here they'll definitely rout a few this year. Their attacking play is superb; they have so many ideas. If anyone finishes above them they'll be champions, that's for sure." Having played at Highbury on the opening day Flowers should be good judge, though Neil Lennon reckons Arsenal are marginally stronger. Certainly in the first half Leicester showed how best to counteract Chelsea's talent. Harrying mercilessly they suffocated them as far as anyone can.
Only after Dennis Wise's header had equalised Emile Heskey's goal did Leicester retreat and Chelsea take control.
But still they needed Frank Sinclair's Groundhog Day experience for their point after Heskey hinted at the importance of the injured Marcelle Desailly by winning a last-minute penalty which Muzzy Izzet converted.
Poor Sinclair. Just as a his last-minute own goal gave Arsenal victory, so he headed in Sutton's flick to rescue his former club. And that more than two minutes after the board for time added on had signalled "one". Until Chelsea score one, perhaps.
"I must have smashed a mirror at home," Sinclair said. "I've only scored two own goals in my career before this." But for his misfortune Leicester would be second.
"Things like this cost you places in Europe," Lennon lamented. Or in Chelsea's case win you championships.
LEICESTER: Flowers, Sinclair, Taggart (Gilchrist 86), Izzet, Lennon, Heskey, Guppy, Savage, Elliott, Impey, Cottee (Marshall 72). Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Oakes, Zagorakis. Booked: Lennon, Elliott. Goals: Heskey 10, Izzet 90 pen.
CHELSEA: De Goey, Petrescu, Babayaro, Hogh, Leboeuf, Poyet, Wise, Le Saux (Goldbaek 23), Ferrer, Flo, Zola (Sutton 69). Subs Not Used: Nicholls, Cudicini, Percassi. Booked: Wise, Petrescu, Poyet, Babayaro, Ferrer. Goals: Wise 48, Sinclair 90 og.
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).
