Leicester City’s great escape continues, as the Foxes recorded their sixth win in seven games on Saturday.
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Leicester beat Southampton 2-0 at the King Power Stadium, as Riyad Mahrez scored both goals in the opening 20 minutes to defeat a lackluster Saints.
The damage was done early on and despite having 69 percent of the possession, Saints could not find a way through as they have now gone four games without a win.
With their latest victory Leicester move up to 15th on 37 points and are three points above the drop zone with two games to play. Saints still sit in seventh place on 57 points.
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Despite decent possession from Saints early on it was Leicester who took the lead in the 7th minute as Mahrez picked the ball up 30-yards out and wriggled free of two Southampton defenders before firing a low shot into the bottom corner. 1-0 to the Foxes, as the King Power Stadium erupted.
A lengthy delay ensued soon after the goal as Matty James twisted his knee awkwardly when closing down Ryan Bertrand and had to be carried off as Danny Drinkwater came on in his place. Saints tried to get going and Bertrand’s cross put Kasper Schmeichel under plenty of pressure but Leicester’s defense held firm and soon they had doubled their lead.
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In the 19th minute a poor clearance by Saints’ third-choice goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga let in Marc Albrighton down the left and a loose ball broke to Mahrez who lifted the ball past Gazzaniga for his and Leicester’s second of the match. As the first half drew to a close Leicester could have made it 3-0 but Jamie Vardy was denied by Gazzaniga with a fine save with his legs, while the closest Saints came to pulling one back was a free kick from Toby Alderweireld which Schmeichel tipped over.
In the second half Saints tried to get back into the match and force the issue but Leicester were comfortable.
Sadio Mane looked lively in attack and thundered an effort straight at Schmeichel, as that was as good as it got for Ronald Koeman’s side. The Foxes hung on easily to continue their incredible resurgence.
LINEUPS
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Morgan, James (Drinkwater, 13'), Vardy (Nugent, 78'), Albrighton, Huth, Schlupp, Cambiasso, Ulloa (Hammond, 70'), Mahrez, Wasilewski
Goals: Mahrez (7', 19')
Southampton: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Wanyama, Reed, S. Davis (Djuricic, 66'), Elia (Long, 66'), Mane, Pelle