[ad_1]
Jamie Vardy’s penalty and Toby Alderweireld’s own goal propelled Leicester to a 2-0 win over Tottenham and into second place in the Premier League, ahead of the north London club on Sunday (Monday NZT).
Tottenham’s once burgeoning title challenge has failed in the past eight days, with just one point accumulated by José Mourinho’s team in three games.
But Leicester, the surprising 2016 title winner, is now just four points behind reigning defending champion Liverpool after 14 games.
READ MORE:
* Watford seeks 10th coach in five years after firing Vladimir Ivic
* Premier League: Mohamed Salah scores a double from the bench in the 7-0 siege at Liverpool Palace
* Premier League: Manchester United recovers from goalkeeper howl to beat Sheffield United
A first half with no clear chances ended with Vardy putting Leicester ahead with the final shot from the penalty spot in injury time after Tottenham defender Serge Aurier attacked Wesley Fofana.
Andy Rain / AP
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy roars with joy after opening the scoring in his 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham escaped early in the second half when James Justin’s long ball over the top was cleverly dropped by James Maddison before scoring, only for the VAR to detect a tight offside.
But Leicester received a second in the hour that Vardy’s header crossed the goal and was deflected into his own net by Alderweireld, who was not under pressure.
Frank Augstein / AP
Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, center, watches the ball deflect from him into the net from Jamie Vardy’s header across the goal.
It allowed Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, appointed academy coach at Chelsea in 2004 when Mourinho was first-team coach, to claim a first victory over his mentor in their eighth meeting.
Two weeks after Tottenham beat Arsenal in front of 2,000 fans, the North London stadium bleachers were closed again, after only being open for two games, as stricter coronavirus restrictions were re-imposed in the capital. .
“We came here with a game plan and we absolutely nailed what we wanted to do and it put us on the path of getting the three points we deserved,” Vardy told the broadcaster. Sky sports.
It was hardly the performance Mourinho would have wanted to demonstrate Tottenham’s title credentials. The Portuguese coach claimed on Wednesday (Thursday NZT) that the “best team lost” when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-1.
Andy Rain / AP
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy now has 11 goals this season after keeping his cool from the penalty spot against Tottenham.
Six of United’s best
Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes each scored twice as Manchester United defeated old rivals Leeds 6-2 to get within five points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
McTominay scored both of his goals in the first three minutes as Leeds was unable to track their runs from midfield.
Fernandes soon made three on a fumble in the penalty area, and Victor Lindelof struck in a quarter when Leeds lost track of him in a corner.
Pool / Getty Images
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes shoots his team’s third in a thrilling 6-2 win over Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Daniel James and Fernandes, from the penalty spot, scored for United in the second half. Goals from Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas for Leeds never seemed like the beginning of a comeback.
United move up to third place, one game less against Leicester and Liverpool, who are in second place.
The victory ended United fans’ long wait for a league game against Leeds (the last was in 2004) and a resounding victory at Old Trafford.
Before kick-off, only Brighton, Burnley and Sheffield United had earned fewer league points at home, and United’s only home win was a disappointing 1-0 against West Bromwich Albion last month.
Faced with Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa’s style of action, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer credited his side for beating Leeds at their own game.
Michael Regan / AP
Defender Victor Lindelof, second from left, is harassed by his teammates after scoring Manchester United’s fourth goal against Leeds.
“We had a plan to chase them and go forward when we got the ball, and Scott scores two goals in the first three minutes, which is a great start,” Solskjaer said.
“We had to earn the right to win by running as much or more than them, so it was a challenge against one of the fittest teams in the league.”
Blades denied the first victory
In the previous game, Sheffield United’s winless start to the season continued after a 1-1 draw with Brighton.
United were reduced to 10 men when midfielder John Lundstram was sent off for a tackle on Joel Veltman late in the first half.
Glyn Kirk / Getty Images
Danny Welbeck, center, salvages a point at the end of Brighton to deny 10-man Sheffield United their first win of the season.
But Chris Wilder’s team still took the lead against the game’s streak in the 63rd minute when a deflected shot from Jayden Bogle beat Robert Sanchez into Brighton’s goal.
But United couldn’t put up with their first win of the campaign as Danny Welbeck gave the Seagulls a point with a close-range finish with three minutes to go.
The Blades remain rooted at the foot of the table and six points drifting from safety.
