Ricardo Pereira has scored in back-to-back games for Leicester City
Ricardo Pereira came off the bench to rescue a Championship point for 10-man Leicester City in their first trip to Oxford United for 31 years.
The Foxes were a man down for almost 70 minutes after Aaron Ramsey was shown a red card on his Leicester debut.
Will Lankshear's tap-in finish for the U's had already been cancelled out by a gift of an equaliser for Jordan Ayew before Burnley loanee Ramsey was sent off in the 23rd minute for a reckless challenge on Filip Krastev.
A header from Ben Davies that deflected off Boubakary Soumare for an own goal restored Oxford's lead just before the break, but half-time substitute Pereira was quick to make an impact as he found the bottom corner with a 55th-minute equaliser.
In the three decades between Leicester's last trip to Oxford, the two sides have travelled significantly different paths - with the Foxes scaling to the top of English football as Premier League champions, while the U's dropped as low as National League level.
And while Oxford started the day 18 places below Leicester in the table and without a league win this season, they had Marti Cifuentes' high-flying Foxes working hard from the outset.
Lankshear's ninth minute finish, after Jacub Stolarczyk's failure to hold a Matt Phillips volley allowed Michal Helik to cut the ball back for the Tottenham loanee, was a deserved opener after a bright start from the hosts.
A disastrous back pass from newly appointed U's captain Cameron Brannagan gifted Ayew the chance to immediately restore parity.
Przemyslaw Placheta then threatened to restore Oxford's lead, with an effort that crashed off the crossbar and dangerously rebounded back against goalkeeper Stolarczyk.
But the reprieve was soon forgotten as Ramsey saw red for a dangerous, studs-up challenge on Oxford's Bulgaria international and fellow debutant Filip Krastev – moments after testing Jamie Cumming with a fierce shot.
Despite going a man down, Stephy Mavididi was quick to show that Leicester would remain a threat with a solo attempt that had Oxford's defence scrambling before Cumming made a save at his near post.
Davies' header from a corner, which cannoned off the unsuspecting Soumare and beyond Foxes goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, put Gary Rowett's side back ahead in the 44th minute.
Cifuentes called on the experienced duo of Harry Winks and Pereira at half-time, and the Foxes' Portuguese captain was quick to make a decisive contribution - linking up with Abdul Fatawu at the end of a intricate passing move before coolly slamming home the equaliser.
There were also late shouts for a Leicester penalty, with a cross from Ayew hitting the arm of Sam Long, but those appeals were waved away by referee Ben Toner as the visitors were forced to settle for a hard-earned draw.
Cifuentes 'cuts tongue' when asked about red - reaction
Oxford United boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:
When asked if felt like points dropped, he said: "A little bit. But if you look at that result against a former Premier League side, and one with lots of Premier League quality players and athletes, then I'd say overall you would be reasonably happy with a 2-2. But with the way the game goes, you always react to that.
"I thought we started the game fantastically well, I think for 25 minutes 11 v 11 we were the better side. We played really well and built on that Coventry performance, and I was really encouraged by that.
"We scored the early goal, then we made a mistake to let them back in it before having a little bit of fortune with the second goal, but nevertheless it comes off the back of a lot of pressure and good control.
"I'm disappointed with the second goal [conceded]. It was clinical from their perspective, but it was a giveaway from ours. It's those little moments that we need to have a little bit more to win there games."
Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester:
"We will never be satisfied with or happy with a point. It doesn't matter if it's at home or away. On that part, I'm not happy with how we started the game, about the way we conceded two goals.
"But it was a difficult game because of the development of how it was, but I really value - and that is the part I want to take with me - the second half and the personality and courage that the players showed to turn around a difficult situation.
On Ramsey's red card: "Refereeing is always very difficult. I have my thoughts about it, and today is one of those days where, not only in this situation but other situations, that it is better I take a knife and cut my tongue and don't speak much."
"I'll never be satisfied with just a point"
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