Leicester City destroy Manchester City 3-1 at Etihad thanks to some Mahrez magic
Leicester City continued their fine, fine form in the Premier League with a 3-0 win over second-placed rivals, Manchester City at the Etihad stadium. Two goals from German center-back Robert Huth and one from Algerian superstar, Riyad Mahrez kept their improbable title challenge alive and well.
Squads:
Manchester City: Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov, Yaya Toure (C), Fernandinho, David Silva, Fabian Delph, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero
Leicester: Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan (c), Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs, Riyad Mahrez, Kanté, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Shinji Okazaki and Jamie Vardy.
The first half began with a bang thanks to a wonderfully taken effort by German Robert Huth who headed in a Mahrez free-kick taken from just outside the City box. Mahrez is having an incredible season and one it could all be summed up by his performance for the Foxes at the Etihad today.
Silky passing from the left and right-hand side – often interchanging with Okazaki – split the Manchester City defense time and time again. With Yaya Toure in a more attacking role due to the absence of the injured Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho and Englishman, Fabian Delph were left to deal with the tricky Algerian.
The absence of Vincent Kompany has left a huge hole in the Manchester City spine and with Otamendi and Demichelis, the Citizens clearly do not have a leader worthy of leading the side to a title. Marc Albrighton and Danny Simpson were left to exploit the often-ahead Kolarov and Zabaleta with Jamie Vardy making the perfect run almost every time the wingers and/or Mahrez was on the ball.
The second half began in almost the same fashion as the first with Leicester kicking off and dominating the midfield up until the forwards. Two minutes into the second half – with Manchester City – trying to break through the Leicester defense, the Foxes counter and in emphatic fashion, score.
Riyad Mahrez receives the ball out wide, cuts in beating a desperate Nicolas Otamendi and shoots past a flat-footed Joe Hart. The second goal was followed by a flurry of chances falling to Japanese international, Okazaki, who had an incredible game but for the multiple failed chances. Post these chances, Manchester City began applying sustained pressure on the Leicester defense but the visitors always looked like the ones who would redeem their chances until Zabaleta fouled Marc Albrighton.
Mahrez took the free-kick, City cleared it for a corner and Fuchs stepped up to take the resulting corner. A perfect delivery from Fuchs found Robert Huth inside the City box again and the big German slotted past a yet again flat-footed Joe Hart.
3-0 up and Leicester were dominating the game in every department. The only consolation was the solitary goal scored by Argentine, Sergio Aguero, late in the 87th minute.
With this win, Leicester take a 6-point lead in the Premier League with a visit to outside title-challengers Arsenal.