Leicester City vs. Chelsea: Score, Report and Reaction from Premier League
Chelsea edged to within one win of the Premier League title following a 2-1 victory at Leicester City on Wednesday at King Power Stadium.
Leicester led through Marc Albrighton's stoppage-time strike in the first half, but Chelsea scored three times in the second half to turn around the game and move within sight of a first league title in five years. Didier Drogba pulled the Blues level in the 48th minute before John Terry poked in the winner 11 minutes from time. Ramires added his side's third in the 83rd minute.
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With the win, Chelsea now have 80 points through 34 matches and sit 13 points ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal, their nearest challengers. With another victory at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, Jose Mourinho's side will be champions.
In truth, the last several weeks have been little more than a coronation march for Chelsea, who have been the league's best and most consistent side throughout the season. In recent days, the Blues have had to deal with allegations of playing boring football, and in the first half, there was little on show to deny that charge. But the champions-elect were devastatingly efficient after the interval, scoring three times from just four shots on target, per WhoScored.com.
Leicester, meanwhile, face a fight to remain in the Premier League after earning promotion to the top flight only last season. With four matches to go, the Foxes are one point clear of the relegation places. Up next for Nigel Pearson's side, who had won four consecutive games before Wednesday, is a potentially pivotal clash with 14th-placed Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Needing points to ensure their Premier League survival, Leicester made a bright start to the match, limiting their more illustrious visitors with an intense approach. But clear chances were scarce in the early exchanges for both sides, with Leicester's Jamie Vardy blasting over the bar in the 10th minute and Drogba scuffing an effort off target five minutes later.
The hosts had to make two substitutions due to injury in first half. Matthew James replaced Andy King in the 19th minute, and Ritchie De Laet came on for Robert Huth in the 24th.
As the first half wore on, chances remained rare. Leicester created a rare opening in the 41st minute, when Paul Konchesky forced Petr Cech into a save with a low shot at the near post from Albrighton's high cross. Albrighton then had a shot blocked following an exchange that resembled pinball inside Chelsea's box.
The game seemed to be heading for half-time without a goal, but in the third and final minute of stoppage time, Leicester took the lead. Running onto a pass down the left channel, Vardy powered to the byline and pulled back into the middle for Albrighton. Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta slipped, allowing Albrighton to pick out his shot, which he deposited expertly in the bottom corner.
With that, Chelsea trailed 1-0 at half-time, having conceded the opening goal in a game for the first time in 2015, per ESPN's Paul Carr:
But the visitors were not behind for long. In the 48th minute, the league leaders pulled level.
Right-back Branislav Ivanovic played the role of creator, working free down the right flank before rolling a pass to Drogba, who had peeled away from his marker. With his first touch, Drogba swept into the net across Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Drogba had another chance just one minute later, but this time the Ivorian blasted over the bar from an unmarked position in the box. Chelsea came close again in the 51st minute, as Willian powered down the right and crossed to Cesc Fabregas at the back post. The ball bounced invitingly for the Spaniard, but Fabregas was unable to control and the chance passed.
Chelsea were well on top now, and in the 63rd minute, Drogba flashed a shot across the face of goal and wide of the target. Two minutes later, Willian curled an effort over the bar.
Another goal felt inevitable, and in the 79th minute, Terry obliged. Schmeichel made a fine save to keep out Gary Cahill's header from a corner, but Terry was on hand to poke in the rebound from close range to put Chelsea ahead at 2-1.
Once the goal went in, there was only going to be one winner. But Chelsea made sure of it in the 83rd minute. Fabregas was the catalyst this time, picking out Ramires' late run into the box with a finely weighted pass from the byline. Without breaking stride, Ramires smashed his first-time shot into the top corner for a 3-1 lead.
Grades
| Kasper Schmeichel | 5.9 |
| Marcin Wasilewski | 6.4 |
| Robert Huth | 6.3 |
| Wes Morgan | 6.4 |
| Marc Albrighton | 8.0 |
| Daniel Drinkwater | 6.0 |
| Esteban Cambiasso | 6.8 |
| Andy King | 6.5 |
| Paul Konchesky | 5.9 |
| Leonardo Ulloa | 6.1 |
| Jamie Vardy | 6.9 |
| Matthew James (for King, 19') | 7.2 |
| Ritchie de Laet (for Huth, 24') | 7.3 |
| Riyad Mahrez (for Vardy, 77') | 5.7 |
| Petr Cech | 6.5 |
| Branislav Ivanovic | 7.5 |
| Gary Cahill | 7.9 |
| John Terry | 7.9 |
| Cesar Azpilicueta | 6.8 |
| Cesc Fabregas | 7.9 |
| Nemanja Matic | 8.1 |
| Ramires | 7.4 |
| Willian | 7.3 |
| Eden Hazard | 7.2 |
| Didier Drogba | 7.7 |
| Kurt Zouma (for Willian, 84') | 6.6 |
| Juan Cuadrado (for Hazard, 88') | No rating |
| John Obi Mikel (for Fabregas, 90') | No rating |
Reaction
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, via BBC Sport:
"It is phenomenal what they are doing, top of the league since day one is not easy. They play against a team on a fantastic run, playing at home with big enthusiasm.
My experience in football teaches me to just worry about my own feelings. I know what I feel in relation to my work in the past two years, I don't need other people to recognise what we are. I know exactly what we are. We are what every team would like to be.
…
Tonight was not boring for me. To be losing at half-time is not boring - it is pressure. The way we played in the second half, against probably the best team we have played in the last month, was fantastic.
In April everyone expected us to drop points against Arsenal and Man Utd, but April was the month that we destroyed opponents. We won every game except the draw against Arsenal so I'm very pleased. Now we just need three more points.
"
Leicester goalscorer Marc Albrighton, via BBC Sport:
"We gave ourselves a good foothold in the first half and we couldn't see it through. So it is difficult to take heart from the game to be honest. They scored the early goal and it got them back in the game. We will look to redeem ourselves in a couple of days against Newcastle.
You can take a little bit from the performance but we have put ourselves in a position where we need points. Performances aren't important—we just need the points and obviously we haven't taken any tonight.
Staying up is still in our hands, we have got a massive game against Newcastle here at the King Power and the fans will be behind us.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
