Vardy earns Leicester narrow win at Chelsea

Jamie Vardy: goal poacher for Leicester

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring a goal

Jamie Vardy’s well-taken breakaway goal helped Leicester to earn a 1-0 win at Chelsea on Saturday to ease the pressure on coach Claude Puel.

The victory also inflicted on the hosts their first home English Premier League defeat of the season.

The English striker’s goal in the 51st minute earned the visitors only their second win in six league matches.

They also put up a determined defensive display to keep Chelsea forward Eden Hazard at bay.

The Belgian winger, deployed in a false nine role by Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri, came closest in the first half as he struck the crossbar with a fierce drive.

The hosts dominated possession but failed to create many clear chances.

Vardy made Chelsea pay shortly after the break, finishing lethally after James Maddison slipped him through at the end of a quick counter-attack.

Hazard came close again but was denied by a brilliant Kasper Schmeichel save, while Cesar Azpilicueta’s last-ditch block stopped Vardy adding another with a clever backheel.

Chelsea almost found an equaliser in the 90th minute but Marcos Alonso hit the inside of the post and the ball rolled agonisingly across the face of goal and out.(Reuters/NAN)