Reuters
Leicester, Dec 15: Sublime goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez sent Leicester City back to the Premier League summit after a deserved 2-1 win here Monday over lacklustre Chelsea whose march to the title last season seems a distant memory.
The prolific Vardy, whose record run of 11 consecutive Premier League goals came to an end at Swansea City last weekend, beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a crisp volley from playmaker Mahrez’s delightful cross after 34 minutes.
Algeria international Mahrez curled in a stunning second from the edge of the area three minutes into the second half to put Leicester, continuing a remarkable turnaround after escaping relegation last season, on 35 points, two clear of Arsenal.
Substitute Loic Remy gave the visitors hope with a close-range headed goal 13 minutes from time to set up a tense finish but the hosts held out to leave Chelsea mired in 16th place on 15 points from 16 games – one point above the relegation zone.
“We played against the champions but we want to make a fantastic match for our fans because they believe, they are dreaming,” said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, savouring victory against his former side. “Tactically, the way we played, I am very happy. We concentrated for 95 minutes against the champions. That is not easy.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on the other hand felt ‘betrayed’ by his players. “They were told certain things, how to do what and yet they failed to do. I was betrayed by my players. They failed to carry out what I had instructed. We allowed them to be the best team on the day.”
Victory was extra sweet for Ranieri who was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, a year after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took ownership of the London club.
Chelsea’s woes were compounded by a first half injury suffered by their Belgium forward Eden Hazard who hobbled off with an apparent hip problem after a challenge from Vardy.
England striker Vardy (15 goals) and Mahrez (11) have scored 26 times between them this season and they again lit up the King Power Stadium with their intelligent running, pace and trickery.
Leicester had the swagger of side sky-high on confidence and a dominant start was rewarded with Vardy’s opener. With that sense of anticipation of a striker at the top of his game, he escaped the attentions of John Terry to send a fizzing volley past Courtois from the influential Mahrez’s seventh assist of the season.
Chelsea rarely threatened in the first half and when Mahrez beat Courtois with a sumptuous strike, Mourinho’s men had it all to do.
They huffed and puffed without any spark until Remy headed in fellow substitute Pedro’s cross but they failed to create any meaningful chances to salvage a point and take some of the pressure off their beleaguered manager.
