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Paying the penalty - Leicester stun Man City 5-2 at Etihad

Published:Monday | September 28, 2020 | 12:13 AM
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy (second right) scores his side’s first goal of the game from the penalty spot during their English Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, yesterday.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy (second right) scores his side’s first goal of the game from the penalty spot during their English Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, yesterday.

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick containing two penalties as Leicester came from behind to stun hosts Manchester City in a wild 5-2 win and collect a third straight victory to open the English Premier League season yesterday.

City’s defence couldn’t handle the pace and movement of Vardy, who won two penalties, converting both of them, either side of a brilliant finish that saw him flick the ball home at the near post with a deft backheel.

Vardy added to the two goals he scored against West Bromwich Albion on the opening weekend as he looks to back up a 2019-20 season, which he ended as the league’s top scorer with 23 goals.

James Maddison added a fourth for Leicester at Etihad Stadium by curling a shot into the top corner from 25 yards as City backed off the substitute, and Youri Tielemans converted a third penalty for his team in the 87th, by which time Vardy had been substituted.

“We tweaked it tactically today, knowing when we got the ball and played through their press, we would get a few chances and we stuck them all away,” Vardy said.

“We have set up to infuriate them, and it has worked a treat.”

Riyad Mahrez, a former Leicester player, gave City the lead in the fourth minute with an impressive strike, and Nathan Ake pulled a goal back in the 84th for City, who lacked a presence up front with Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesus missing.

It was a concerning display by Pep Guardiola’s side, which was without a slew of other key players through injury and issues related to COVID-19, including Aymeric Laporte, Bernardo Silva, and İlkay Gündoğan.

It came six days after City looked so assured in beating Wolverhampton 3-1 in their first match of the season, but Guardiola’s team was picked off repeatedly yesterday.

“It was a brilliant performance and result,” Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said. “It has taken me 13 years to play that way. I’m very much about attacking and being aggressive. I always try to be positive, but I need to think of other ways to get results in these games.”

Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds

Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle

Manchester City 2-5 Leicester

West Ham 4-0 Wolverhampton

Fulham v Aston Villa 11:45 a.m.

Liverpool v Arsenal 2 p.m.