Watford 0 - 1 LeicesterLeicester City’s Riyad Mahrez sinks Watford to boost title charge
Away team scorersRiyad Mahrez 56
Riyad Mahrez will have a wonderful highlights reel to show at the end of this season and the goal that decided this gripping contest is sure to feature. It will also deserve a place in any film commemorating Leicester City’s first top-flight title if Claudio Ranieri’s relentless charges go on to complete a triumph that seemed nigh-on impossible several months ago but is now tantalisingly close to reality.
Leicester are five points clear at the top of the Premier League with nine matches to play. They enjoyed a double-boost before kick-off. The frenetic draw at White Hart Lane offered them a chance to create breathing room at the top of the table, and the return of N’Golo Kanté from a hamstring injury after a one-match absence restored their most powerful pair of lungs to their team. Leicester, then, were at full strength. But how hard would Watford make it for them to seize their opportunity?
But the hosts made it clear from the off that they were not in an accommodating mood. Watford zipped forward immediately, tricky interplay between Troy Deeney and José Holebas culminating in a stinging shot from the Greek defender. Wes Morgan, one of two players in Leicester’s starting line-up who had featured in their agonising Championship play-off semi-final defeat here less than three years ago, made a determined block.
Within a minute Leicester whipped out their own attacking credentials. In a move about which every defence has now been forewarned but against which few can forearm themselves, Jamie Vardy whizzed on to a long pass from Christian Fuchs, outstripping defenders and skipping past the advancing goalkeeper at the edge of the area. Heurelho Gomes did at least force the striker wide and that allowed Nathan Aké, who was playing at centre-back rather than left-back because of the late personnel change, to get back in time to turn away Vardy’s shot.
Two minutes later Aké again saved Watford, this time beating Shinji Okazaki to a rebound after Gomes palmed away a crisp low 20-yard drive by Fuchs. Aké remained central to the goalmouth action. In the 10th minute he popped up in the visiting box, leaping high to meet a free kick by Ben Watson. His looping header bounced out off the crossbar.
Watford were giving as good as they got in an engagingly open contest. But Vardy should have tilted it the way of the league leaders midway through the first period. After outmuscling Sebastian Prödl in a fight for a breaking ball, the striker fed Mahrez and dashed goalward.
Mahrez unselfishly played the ball back to him as Gomes came out to narrow the angle but Vardy, under pressure from the retreating Prödl, poked wide of the near post from close range.
That miss prompted the home crowd to make unflattering comparisons between Vardy and Deeney, presumably for the attention of the watching Roy Hodgson. Three minutes later Deeney had an opportunity to make the point in more elegant fashion, but his shot from 14 yards took a nick of Danny Simpson, presenting Kasper Schmeichel with a more comfortable save than he must have been dreading.
As the first half progressed, quality dipped and tension rose. Gomes made a routine save from a header by Morgan as half-time approach. And then Morgan made a weak header at the other end that might have had enraging consequences for the Leicester if not for the alertness of Schmeichel, who sprinted out of his box to kick the ball to safety.
Ranieri will never fail through inertia. He made two substitutions at half-time in an effort to stimulate his team, introducing Jeff Schlupp and Andy King in place of Okazaki and Marc Albrighton. Those switches were intended to give his side greater solidity in the middle and sharper thrust down the left. But Watford were the first to threaten, as Mario Suárez let fly from the edge of the area. Schmeichel ensured it was just a warning shot. And then Mahrez showed how it should be done.
Defensive tutors will point to a weak clearing header by Holebas from a cross from Fuchs but everyone else will just enjoy a delicious finish by the Algerian, who took one touch near the 18-yard line before curling a left-footed shot into the top corner.
There was nothing for Gomes to do other than admire the sheer class of it. It was Mahrez’s 15th goal of the season.
Mahrez’s blast was like rocket fuel to Leicester. In the following minutes they threatened to soar way beyond Watford. Gomes saved well from a header by Robert Huth before Leicester sent a series of passes across the face of goal, each one fractionally beyond a visiting player. Mahrez nearly reprised his opening goal in the 68th minute, from the other side and slightly farther out this time. Gomes made a good stop.
Odion Ighalo could have strained Leicester’s nerves – assuming they have any – in the closing minutes but headed feebly at Schmeichel from six yards. Mahrez trudged off before the end, seemingly suffering a knock, but his magical work was already done.
Guardian