Leicester are now 5 points ahead of Tottenham in the race to win this season’s Premier League title. Yes, you read it correctly, Claudio Ranieri’s men created a 5-point gap at the top, all thanks to a wonderful goal from their man of the season – Riyad Mahrez.
Watford tried their best but were unable to keep hold of Leicester’s irresistible, sometimes infectious will to win football matches. Chances were aplenty, but for once, Jamie Vardy and Leicester’s finishing ditched them.
Shinji Okazaki had the game’s first big chance but he failed to control his footing and saw his shot go wide of the mark on 23rd minute mark. Jamie Vardy looked in the mood when he chased down 2 long balls to cause havoc in Watford’s defense, however, he could not apply the finishing touches.
Claudio Ranieri took a gamble in this game by starting with N’Golo Kante, and it paid off big time and the little pocket-size dynamo Kante was at his absolute best. He dominated the play from offset and kept finding Mahrez on the right hand side.
There is thing about Mahrez, when ball goes to him, time seems to stand still and watches him glide over the floor. He plays in the same mode as Ryan Giggs with a hint of Arjen Robben about the way he loves to cut back on his left and shoot.
Despite Mahrez’s brilliance and Vardy’s endeavor, Leicester drew blank in the first half and it prompted Ranieri to make instant change in the second half. Andy King came for Shinji Okazaki and Marc Albrighton was replaced with Jeff Schlupp.
Watford 0 Leicester 1 Post Match Analysis
Move seemed to work well as Shlupp was a real threat from the left wing, and got in to Watford’s box time and time again. As for Watford’s attacking display, there was nothing concrete to report on. Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney went missing and it showed in their poor attempts going forward.
But then, focus was not on them, it was about Leicester’s capability to win this game and stretch their lead at the top. Riyad Mahrez answered all these questions in an emphatic manner, when he perhaps netted his best goal of the season.
Mahrez collected a loose ball on the edge of the area and decided to give it a thump. The ball could have gone in only one corner of the goal, and it found its way in, such was the accuracy and power in the shot. Mahrez’s strike had once again revived Leicester’s hopes of winning the title.
Watford did try to make life difficult for the away side with direct balls in to the box, but as ever, Huth-Morgan partnership was not perturbed. They saw out the game and went back with all three points and more importantly they now have a 5-point lead over Tottenham, which could turn out to decisive in this season’s title race.
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