Leicester City beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in Week 33 of the Premier League at the King Power Stadium, Tuesday (27/4).
Leicester started the first half with caution. This situation was used by Palace to be more courageous in attacking to dismantle Leicester’s defense.
In the 12th minute, Palace were able to take the lead over Leicester. The goal that gave Palace a 1-0 lead was scored by Wilfried Zaha.
Feed from Eberechi Eze managed to reach Zaha who escaped the offside trap. The Ivory Coast national team striker then easily struck the ball to thrill Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.
Leicester did not remain silent after trailing 0-1. The movement of The Foxes’ front line duo, Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho often caused trouble for the visitors but until the end of the first half no goals had been scored.
In the second half, Leicester increasingly attacked Palace’s pressure. The strategy paid off as Leicester were able to equalize to 1-1 through Timothy Castagne’s goal in the 50th minute.
Castagne did not waste Castagne’s measured bait in the penalty box, who managed to break into the Palace goal with a left-footed shot.
The pressure exerted by Brendan Rodgers’ side got even more bumpy after the score was 1-1. Leicester have had many opportunities through Vardy, James Maddison and Iheanacho but have not been able to find Vicente Guaita’s goal.
The host’s long-awaited goal arrived in the 80th minute. Jonny Evans’ long ball led directly to Iheanacho in the penalty box.
Iheanacho who was in a tight corner suddenly fired a hard shot into the left corner of the goal which Guaita couldn’t anticipate. The goal made the score change to 2-1 which lasted until the second half ended for Leicester’s victory over Palace.
The results of this match cemented the Foxes in the ranks of the Premier League’s top clubs towards the end of the season as well as made it difficult for Liverpool to reach a place in the top four zone which is a prerequisite for the Champions League.
The 2015/2016 Premier League champions are now in third place with 62 points.
With five matches remaining, Leicester still maintains a distance from competition with Manchester United who are in second place with 67 points.
While Leicester are now four points from Chelsea, who are ranked fourth.
The results of Leicester vs Crystal Palace also make it difficult for Liverpool, who are trying to enter the top four zone for Champions League tickets.
Liverpool is now ranked sixth with 54 points. With five matches remaining, the Reds can only reach a maximum of 69 points at the end of the season.
While Leicester only need three wins from the remaining five games to get past Liverpool’s maximum points.
Liverpool, which are hit by consistency problems, will still serve Man Utd in the remaining matches as well as clubs that are trying hard to stay away from the relegation zone such as Southampton, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.
