Chelsea closer to clinching English Premier League title with 3-1 win over Leicester City
Chelsea took another step towards winning the English
Premier League title, as goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and
Ramires helped overturn a half-time deficit for a 3-1 triumph at in-form
Leicester City.
Jose Mourinho's side can now secure the crown if
they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday (local time) after overcoming a scare
against a side, who looked far from relegation contenders on this
evidence.
Leicester City, who had won its previous four matches,
struck just before the break through Marc Albrighton and looked value
for its lead until Chelsea raised its game in the second half.
The
visitors opted to start with Petr Cech in goal with Thibaut Courtois
not 100 per cent fit, while Diego Costa missed out with 37-year-old
Drogba handed only his sixth league start of the season.
Leicester City was unchanged and not surprisingly, given its form, it started well in front of a passionate home crowd.
Jamie Vardy headed straight at Cech from Albrighton's cross before the former's snapshot from 25 yards just missed the target.
Esteban
Cambiasso's intelligent long ball then found Leonardo Ulloa but the
Argentine striker could not get a clean touch to take him through on
goal.
Chelsea should have taken the lead though when Willian ran
down the left and pulled the ball back for Drogba but his tame effort
from 12 yards hit Marcin Wasilewski.
Leicester City was dealt a
blow when midfielder Andy King, on his 300th appearance for the club,
was forced off with an early knock and replaced by Matty James.
The
hosts shortly afterwards suffered another injury with Robert Huth
coming off after an innocuous challenge at a corner with Ritchie De Laet
coming on to necessitate a switch to a flat back four.
Those
disruptions destroyed Leicester City's early rhythm and Chelsea came
closer to the opener with Drogba firing wide on the turn.
But Nigel Pearson's side shut out the danger and Danny Drinkwater's long ranger was the next chance, which went just over.
Leicester
City might have taken the lead shortly afterwards as Albrighton's shot
was deflected onto the post right footed by Paul Konchesky prompting a
mass goalmouth scramble involving Cambiasso and Albrighton.
But it
took the lead in stoppage time as James fed Vardy down the left and
Cesar Azpilicueta slipped on the wet surface for Albrighton to slot in
his first goal for Leicester City and first since 2012.
Chelsea, though, regrouped at half-time and was level within three minutes of the re-start.
Branislav
Ivanovic cut in down the right and crossed for Drogba to finish in cool
fashion and it prompted an emotional celebration at his first goal of
2015.
Drogba could have had a second as he twice went close, the first time blazing over and then firing over from a good position.
James's deflected shot raised the tempo for Leicester City but it was Chelsea who came into the match late as the hosts tired.
Ramires's
deflected shot forced a 79th-minute Cesc Fabregas corner. Gary Cahill's
back header was superbly saved by Kasper Schmeichel but Terry reacted
quickest to scramble home his seventh goal of the season.
The match was over as a contest four minutes later as a Fabregas pull back was driven home with power by Ramires.
ATP