Leicester City kept on course for a remarkable English Premier League title triumph as they maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the table after both they and second-placed Tottenham Hotspur won on Sunday.
The Foxes, 5,000-1 title shots in preseason, were indebted to two second-half goals from England striker Jamie Vardy in securing a hard-fought 2-0 win away to relegation-threatened Sunderland which appeared to leave Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri with tears in his eyes.
Vardy’s 66th-minute opener saw him become the first Leicester player to score 20 league goals in an English top-flight season since Gary Lineker, while his second, a breakaway effort in the fifth minute of stoppage-time put the result beyond doubt.
Photo: EPA
“We knew it would be tough, it is normal because Sunderland are fighting to be safe, but I am very happy for the three points,” Leicester manager Ranieri told the BBC. “Our performance was very solid, of course they had the chance to draw, but we had three or four chances to finish it early.”
Ranieri alluded to his tear-stained reaction to Vardy’s second goal by saying: “You make this job for the emotion you feel inside, but it is difficult for me to tell what kind of emotion.”
Victory at the Stadium of Light meant Leicester were briefly 10 points clear at the top of the table.
Photo: Reuters
Kickoff in Tottenham’s match at home to Manchester United later on Sunday was delayed by 30 minutes after the visitors’ bus got caught up in traffic on the way to White Hart Lane, but the change to their prematch routine could not explain how United conceded three goals in six second-half minutes as Spurs completed an ultimately comfortable 3-0 won.
Dele Alli broke the deadlock in the 70th minute and, before United knew what had hit them, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela made it 3-0.
Fifth-placed United’s defeat guaranteed Leicester a top-four finish and with it, at worst, a European campaign, although a place in the UEFA Champions League and a first English title look increasingly likely.
With both Spurs and Leicester still having five league games to play this season, Mauricio Pochettino’s men remain in contention for what would be the north London club’s first league title since their celebrated “Double” in 1960-1961, when they also won the FA Cup.
“The performance was perfect in the second half,” Tottenham manager Pochettino told Sky Sports. “We are very pleased. Full credit to the players. It was a fantastic job. Beating Manchester United 3-0, you have to be happy.”
The defeat left United four points adrift of local rivals Manchester City in the race for fourth place.
However, defiant United manager Louis van Gaal said: “Every team can lose to everybody, so we are still in the race. Of course, when you lose a game you have to close the gap again and that is more difficult.”
Sunday’s other Premier League match saw Liverpool leapfrog Stoke City into eighth place with a 4-1 win that featured two goals from substitute Divock Origi as the Reds enjoyed their biggest win at Anfield this season.
Alberto Moreno gave Liverpool an early lead, but Stoke equalized in the 22nd minute through Bojan Krkic.
Ten minutes later, Liverpool were back in front courtesy of striker Daniel Sturridge.
Origi, who replaced Sheyi Ojo at halftime, had not been on the pitch for five minute when he scored his second goal in as many games, nodding home James Milner’s cross in front of the Kop.
The Belgium international then got a fortuitous second goal, his 65th-minute cross going directly into the net.
“It’s never easy to play against Stoke, but we showed we had a lot of qualities,” Origi said. “I’m never satisfied with my own play, but I’m happy. It’s nice to play and score.”
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