Leicester must wait for title

Leicester must wait for title

May 02, 2016
leices
leices


LONDON — Leicester City must wait at least one more day for its first-ever Premier League title after drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford Sunday.

Claudio Ranieri's side fell short of the victory that would have brought the silverware but it will be crowned champion Monday if second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, which trails it by eight points, fails to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where it has not won since 1990.

Hopes of a Leicester triumph Sunday suffered an early setback when striker Anthony Martial put United ahead with a neat right-foot finish from Antonio Valencia's eighth-minute cross.

Wes Morgan soon headed an equalizer from a Danny Drinkwater free kick, and the visitors thought they deserved a penalty when Riyad Mahrez clashed with Marcos Rojo in the United area, but without the suspended Jamie Vardy it lacked its usual threat on the break.

Leicester finished the game with 10 men after Drinkwater was sent off for a second bookable offense five minutes from time.

The midfielder will now miss Leicester's next game at home to Everton, when victory will secure the title even if Tottenham beats Chelsea.


Swansea downs Liverpool

Liverpool's much-changed team was beaten 3-1 at Swansea in the English Premier League Sunday, with Andre Ayew scoring two goals.

Liverpool rested some players ahead of the second leg of its Europa League semifinal against Villarreal and paid the price, with one of the fringe players brought in — Brad Smith — getting sent off in the 76th minute at 3-1.

Ayew headed in the opening goal from a 20th-minute corner and Jack Cork made it 2-0 with a curling shot from the edge of the area.

Christian Benteke scored a header from a corner in the 65th before Ayew sealed the win two minutes later.

Swansea secured its Premier League status for another season.


Southampton beats City

Sadio Mane bagged a hat trick in a vibrant display of attacking football from Southampton that swept aside Manchester City 4-2 and left the visitors facing a scramble to secure Champions League qualification.

The defeat, just three days before its semifinal second leg against Real Madrid, was never in doubt from the moment Shane Long capitalized on a Dusan Tadic assist in the 25th-minute.

The Serb also set up two of the goals for Senegalese striker Mane who pounced after 28, 57 and 68 minutes to complete his second hat trick of a prolific season which has yielded 14 goals.

Although City countered with a brace from Kelechi Iheanacho in the 44th and 78th minutes, Saints never let their grip slip on a victory which kept them in the hunt for a Europa League place.

Fourth-placed City lead Manchester United by just four points and its neighbor has a game in hand. — Agencies

Standings

Leicester City 36 22 11 3 64 34 77
Tottenham 35 19 12 4 65 26 69
Arsenal 36 19 10 7 59 34 67
Man City 36 19 7 10 68 38 64
Man United 35 17 9 9 43 31 60
West Ham 35 15 14 6 60 43 59
Southampton 36 16 9 11 53 39 57
Liverpool 35 15 10 10 59 48 55
Stoke 36 13 9 14 38 52 48
Chelsea 34 12 11 11 53 46 47
Everton 35 10 14 11 55 49 44
Watford 35 12 8 15 36 42 44
Swansea City 36 11 10 15 37 50 43
West Bromwich 36 10 11 15 32 46 41
Bournemouth 36 11 8 17 43 63 41
Palace 36 10 9 17 36 46 39
Newcastle 36 8 9 19 39 64 33
Sunderland 35 7 11 17 40 58 32
Norwich City 35 8 7 20 35 61 31
Aston Villa 36 3 7 26 27 72 16


May 02, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS