The meeting of Manchester City and Leicester in the Saturday lunch time kick-off was a thrilling encounter, both sides displaying their attacking abilities in a fixture that proved to be packed full of pace and end to end attacks. For the duration of the 90 minutes, the team momentums changed continuously in a match that wasn’t short of talking points.
The opening exchanges set the tone for the match, both sides displaying high energy levels and intensity. There was attacking exchanges from both teams with fast paced counter attacks at either end. Sane initiated plenty of opportunities down the left for City, it was only a matter of time before the first goal came.
In the 29th minute, David Silva finished off a well worked attack which started from a lovely long ball deep into the Leicester defence. Sane delivered through the ball which left the defence scrambling and Silva found himself in the right place at the right time to put Man City 1-0 up.
The goal was vehemently protested against by the Leicester defence who felt that Sterling had impeded Schmeichel whilst in an offside position. Regardless the officials disagreed and the goal stood.
The following passages of play were dominated by Man City who had their tails up and were pressing hard around the Leicester box, mounting constant attacks and building pressure around the Leicester penalty area. David Silva and Sane the main catalysts behind the Man City onslaught.
Finally in the 36th minute the pressure took its toll on Leicester as a reckless challenge from Yohan Benalouane dismantled Sane in the box after some tantalising footwork from the youngster to draw the foul. Gabriel Jesus stepped up and converted a composed penalty to the bottom left corner to put Man City 2-0 up.
Jesus has now been involved with seven goals in six premier league starts.
The Foxes looked set to go into the half 2-0 down however a quick response turned the momentum of the game. Okazaki beat Cabellero with a brilliant sliding volley from a low cross whipped in by Marc Albrighton – a true stunner from the Leicester ace.
In the second half Leicester brought most of the attacking prowess in the opening passages of play, mainly through Okazaki who made multiple sniping runs in behind the Man City defence.
The pressure climaxed when Man City gave away a penalty, Clichy made a lazy challenge on Mahrez just inside the box. Mahrez stepped up to convert but was shamefully denied when his converted attempt was disallowed due to a double touch on the ball as he slipped while taking the penalty,
The chance to level the game went begging for Leicester, and was a turning point for the match heading into the last quarter.
There were pleasing scenes for Man City fans as star striker Sergio Aguero came off the bench in the last 10 minutes, gradually returning from injury. Man City managed to survive some late attacks from a determined Leicester side and claim the three points. Ultimately Riyad Mahre’z missed penalty chance proving the difference to give Pep Guardiola’s side a vital three points in the quest for Champions League qualification.
Man of the Match: Sane. After being a constant threat in attack providing Man City with much of their momentum, his long ball set up the first goal which gave Guardiola’s side some momentum to go on and win the game.
Written by Cam Harrison.
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