A last-minute goal by Danny Cadamarteri earned Championship side Leicester a 2-2 home draw with Premiership Fulham and a replay in the FA Cup third round.
The former Everton and Sheffield United striker converted a hooked shot from close range after Levi Porter’s persistence paid off by the by-line in the penalty area.
Anything less would have been harsh on Leicester, who showed more of an attacking edge and creating more clear-cut openings.
A Patrick Kisnorbo goal for the Foxes sandwiched strikes by Brian McBride and Moritz Volz before Cadamarteri’s intervention.
These clubs had previously met in the FA Cup on five occasions, Leicester holding the upper hand with four wins and a draw prior to this contest.
The Foxes had the first attack, Levi Porter crossing from the left, but Gareth Williams could not keep his shot down.
Porter then tricked his way into the box and laid the ball off to Iain Hume in the penalty area, but the striker’s low shot was inches wide.
Heidar Helguson had Fulham’s first effort of note, his header from Elliot Omozusi’s cross tipped over by Foxes goalkeeper Paul Henderson.
City were harrying their Premiership opponents, never allowing them to settle – and the Cottagers were grateful for the battling of captain Michael Brown, who cleared for a corner after Porter caused more trouble.
After 24 minutes Matty Fryatt had a chance to put the Foxes ahead when he was played in, but Ian Pearce stood his ground in defence and blocked the shot.
Moritz Volz had a good chance, but his shot, although on target, was too near the goalkeeper and Leicester cleared easily.
Wayne Routledge missed a great chance when he was through on goal, but when he attempted to round goalkeeper Paul Henderson, he pushed the ball too far to the right and allowed the Foxes to regroup and clear.
Alan Maybury weaved his way into the Fulham area, but his shot was directly at Jan Lastuvka and the keeper – in for the injured Antti Niemi – held on to the ball.
Shortly before half-time Fryatt failed to convert after the ball was caught under his feet after Porter had created the opening.
On the stroke of half-time Routledge put a free-kick over the bar.
Tomasz Radzinski came close to putting the Cottagers ahead shortly after the restart with a shot across goal which narrowly missed the far post.
Stephen Hughes hooked a shot narrowly over after Fulham failed to clear the ball following a corner and the home fans belatedly awoke.
Omozusi weaved his way through the Foxes defence, but put his shot narrowly wide when only six yards out.
Hume then shot narrowly over from about 16 yards to the left of the area as the game became stretched.
Fryatt put a header narrowly wide from Gareth McAuley’s cross from the right as the Foxes wrested control.
But Hughes was then guilty of a dreadful miss when he blazed the ball over the bar when unmarked in the six-yard box.
Bocanegra then nearly made the Foxes pay when he sidefooted a low volley wide at the near post from a corner.
Fulham made the first substitution of the afternoon when Ian Pearce was replaced by Gabriel Zakuani in the 66th minute.
McBride opened the scoring for the visitors when he planted a right-footed shot past the keeper after being put through by Michael Brown after 69 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, in the 71st minute, Vincenzo Montella replaced Heidar Helguson as the former Italy international made his debut following his midweek move.
Danny Tiatto was replaced by James Wesolowski and Cadamarteri came on for Hume as the Foxes introduced fresh legs as they searched for an equaliser.
Hughes was dispossessed in the area as he was shaping to shoot, but just a minute later in the 80th minute the Foxes were even.
Cadamarteri crossed from the left to the far post and Kisnorbo’s header was successful despite the best efforts of the keeper, who pushed the ball onto the bar before it went over the line.
In the 83rd minute Fulham were in front again when Volz pounced a loose ball from the Foxes defence and set a low shot from 25 yards just inside the post.
Volz had another good chance in the 89th minute but failed to test the keeper.
And the Foxes earned a replay in injury-time when Cadamarteri scored his first goal for the club after Porter’s persistence paid off down by the byline in the area.
Leicester: Henderson, McAuley, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Maybury, Hughes, Williams, Tiatto (Wesolowski 76), Porter, Hume (Cadamarteri 76), Fryatt.
Subs Not Used: Logan, Dodds, Stearman.
Booked: Williams.
Goals: Kisnorbo (80), Cadamarteri (90).
Fulham: Lastuvka, Rosenior, Pearce (Zakuani 66), Bocanegra, Omozusi, Routledge, Brown, Volz, Radzinski, Helguson (Montella 71), McBride.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Runstrom, John.
Booked: Bocanegra (31,f)
Goals: McBride (69), Volz (83).
Att: 15,499
Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
