Sports

Red Devils hold ambitious Leicester

Leicester must wait to claim the Premier League title after being held to a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in a pulsating clash at Old Trafford.
Needing victory on Sunday to claim the first top-flight title in their 132-year history, Claudio Ranieri’s side started nervously and they were behind in the eighth minute after Anthony Martial’s ninth league goal of the season.
But the visitors showed the character that has underpinned their campaign so far, levelling the scores nine minutes later thanks to captain Wes Morgan’s header.
After the break, both sides continued to push forward in search of a winner as both Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez went close, before Chris Smalling’s header rattled the post with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Leicester were forced to see out the game with 10 men after Danny Drinkwater received his marching orders in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence, but they did just that with the draw taking them to within one point of the title.
However, Ranieri’s men, who face Everton at the King Power Stadium next Saturday, could be crowned champions without kicking a ball if Tottenham fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday Night Football.
With Jamie Vardy still suspended, Ranieri stuck with the same side that won 4-0 at home to Swansea, but the visitors made the worst possible start and were made to pay when Antonio Valencia’s cross reached Martial at the far post, and the Frenchman stroked the ball through the legs of Kasper Schmeichel.
United were brimming with confidence and continued to dominate, nearly doubling their advantage in the 15th minute but for a superb save from Schmeichel, who got down well to parry away Jesse Lingard’s drilled shot after Marouane Fellaini’s knock down.
It proved to be a crucial save as two minutes later, Leicester were back on level terms as Morgan muscled his way through the United defence to head Drinkwater’s free-kick across goal and past David de Gea into the far corner.
It was end-to-end stuff at Old Trafford but again it was United who looked the more likely to score with Wayne Rooney, playing again in a deeper role for the hosts, dragging a shot wide from 20 yards.
The action was coming thick and fast, with De Gea nearly caught out by Jeffrey Schlupp’s cross, but the Spaniard managed to scramble back to parry the ball clear from under his crossbar.
PFA Player of the Year Mahrez picked up the rebound and as he looked to turn past Marcos Rojo, he was blocked by the left-back, but Oliver waved away Leicester’s appeals for a penalty to end the game 1-1 apiece.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply