Leicester 4 - 2 SunderlandLeicester get off to flyer as Riyad Mahrez scores twice to sink SunderlandHome team scorersJamie Vardy 11
Riyad Mahrez 18
Riyad Mahrez 25 Pen
Marc Albrighton 66
Away team scorersJermain Defoe 60
Steven Fletcher 71
Riyad Mahrez scores Leicester City's third against Sunderland in the Premier League
Even at his most optimistic, Claudio Ranieri surely could not have envisaged his debut as Leicester manager going as well as this. Certainly those, and there were many, who raised their eyebrows when the Italian was appointed in mid-July would not have expected that a few weeks later, his team would begin the new Premier League season with a pulsating 4-2 victory which, temporarily at least, put them top of the table.
Goals from Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton saw the hosts simply pick up from where they left off last season. The manager may have changed but this remains a team full of confidence, energy and desire. They were 3-0 up inside 30 minutes and could have seen that lead double before the visitors staged something of a late comeback. Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher scored twice inside 11 second-half minutes but in truth they were mere consolations. Already this is looking like another season of toil for the north-east club.
In what was Ranieri’s first experience of managing Leicester at the King Power Stadium – all five of their pre-season fixtures had been away from home – the Italian handed a starting place to just one of the club’s new arrivals, the Japan striker Shinji Okazaki. Robert Huth, who signed on a long-term deal during the summer having impressed while on loan from Stoke last season, was also in the team.
Meanwhile, Sunderland’s starting line-up,contained two fresh faces; centre-backs Younès Kaboul and winger Jeremain Lens. Sebastián Coates also started for the first time since making his loan move from Liverpool a long-term transfer.
There was a raucous sense of optimism among the home supporters ahead of kick-off, with any shock and upset associated with Nigel Pearson’s departure during the summer not evident. They gave their new manager a warm welcome and had something to cheer as early as the 11th minute when Vardy reacted quickest to Albrighton’s right-sided free-kick and diverted the ball into the far corner of the net.
The goal was against the run of play given Sunderland had started brightly and had three efforts on goal in the space of few seconds, through Defoe, Kaboul and Coates. Kasper Schmeichel saved all of them and soon it was his team who were on the front foot and, more importantly, in the lead.
And that lead was doubled seven minutes later when from another right-sided Albrighton cross, Mahrez scored with a cushioned header at the back post. Cue cries of “We are top of the league”. The same player, who last week, signed a four-year contract extension with Leicester, made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on 25 minutes having been brought down inside the area by, who else, Lee Cattermole.
An incredible start and it could and should have been 4-0 to Leicester inside half an hour but Vardy saw his shot saved by the outrushing Costel Pantilimon.
Sunderland were rocking, memories of last season’s 8-0 drubbing at Southampton among other defensive horrors, surely flooding back. Their high defensive line was being ripped to shreds while Cattermole, playing as a deep-lying midfielder, was being bypassed on regular occasions. It came as no huge surprise when the Sunderland manager, Dick Advocaat, took off the 27-year-old on 30 minutes and brought on Fletcher to partner Defoe in attack.
The change made no difference to the flow of this contest, however, as the hosts remained on top, pressing their opponents back and attacking with pace and precision. Ranieri’s decision to ditch Pearson’s three-centre-back system which had served Leicester so well as they escaped relegation last season and revert to a 4-4-1-1 formation was paying dividends, and prior to half-time Vardy, Mahrez and Andy King all had chances to extend their lead. For Sunderland, slugglish and shell-shocked, the interval came as blessed relief.
The visitors looked more alert at the start of the second half but as was the case for the majority of last season, their forward play lacked nous, seen when Fletcher and Defoe made a hash of linking up inside the area. In contrast, Leicester looked sharp, and had two further chances to extend their lead inside the first 10 minutes of the half through a shot from Vardy by the far touchline and then a low drive from Mahrez that struck the post.
It seemed only a matter of time before the men in blue scored again. Cue surprise then, when Defoe struck on the hour, sending a low shot past Schmeichel having collected Adam Johnson’s pass. For the first time in a while the 3,000 Sunderland supporters located in the far corner of this stadium had reason to feel good about their team.
Their hope appeared all but snuffed out on 66 minutes, however, when Albrighton made it 4-1 with a thumping low drive. But then Fletcher got another goal back for Sunderland with a header. It was madcap stuff but ultimately Leicester triumphed. Top of the league and Ranieri is off and running.
Guardian