Leicester go top after West Ham win as Riyad Mahrez, Shinji Okazaki star
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ByEurosport
Updated 15/08/2015 at 16:47 GMT
Premier League, Upton Park, West Ham United 1 Leicester City 2 (Okazaki 27, Mahrez 38)
Leicester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (C) celebrates after scoring
Image credit: AFP
Leicester City are top of the Premier League table after goals from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez saw them edge West Ham United 2-1.
Leicester came into the match having lost all six Premier League games in London last season but were a different proposition after their opening victory against Sunderland and they have now won nine of their last 11 Premier League matches.
Kasper Schmeichel was lucky not to see red just before the break after he appeared to block Diafra Sakho when the striker was through on goal.
Dimitri Payet gave the Hammers hope with a goal early in the second half but the home side’s hopes ended in controversial circumstances, Adrian dismissed in the dying moments for a high boot into the midriff of Jamie Vardy after he had gone up for a late corner.
The result means that Leicester jump above Manchester United by just one goal on goal difference at the top of the table.
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West Ham's Adrian is sent off by referee Anthony Taylor
Image credit: Reuters
KEY MOMENTS
3’ – MORGAN HEADS AGAINST HIS OWN BAR: Almost a disastrous start as the Leicester skipper heads Payet’s corner off the top of the bar.
27’ – GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Leicester City: Okazaki heads home his own saved shot from Adrian after Vardy’s excellent ball into his path. Adrian did well to save the first but the ball fell right back onto the striker’s head.
38’ – GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Leicester City: More excellent work from Okazaki, who finds Albrighton. His excellent cut back is emphatically finished by Mahrez.
45+3’ – SCHMEICHEL GETS LUCKY: Sakho goes past an advancing Schmeichel and goes down in a heap as the Leicester keeper appears to block him. Lucky not to be a penalty and a red card.
55’ – GOAL! West Ham 1-2 Leicester City: Payet lashes the ball past Schmeichel at the second time of asking after his first shot is blocked.
90+4’ ADRIAN SEES RED: The keeper is dismissed for a high boot on Vardy after coming up for a late corner.
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Leicester City's Japanese striker Shinji Okazaki (R) scores past West Ham United's Spanish goalkeeper Adrian
Image credit: AFP
KEY STATS
The Hammers have won seven of their previous eight home Premier League games against Leicester City, losing the other in August 2000.
The Foxes have ended a run of 20 Premier League games without a victory in the capital (D3 L17 W1).
No Premier League player is currently on a longer run of starts for one side than West Ham goalkeeper Adrian (58 consecutive PL starts).
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Shinji Okazaki celebrates scoring the first goal for Leicester as West Ham's Adrian looks on
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
A tale of two goalkeeper red cards. One was given, one wasn’t. Schmeichel was lucky not to go right at the end of the first half and Adrian’s late boot into Vardy saw him dismissed with West Ham seeking an equaliser.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City): Put Leicester in the driving seat with a well-taken goal and looks a great signing for the Foxes.
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West Ham United's French midfielder Dimitri Payet (L) shoots and scores
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
West Ham: Adrian 5, Jenkinson 6, Reid 7, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 6, Oxford 5, Kouyate 6, Noble 7, Payet 7, Sakho 6, Zarate 6. Subs: Obiang 6, Maiga 6, Lanzini 6.
Leicester City: Schmeichel 6, de Laet 6, Drinkwater 7, Morgan 6, Huth 7, Vardy 6, King 6, Albrighton 6, Schlupp 6, Okazaki 8, Mahrez 7. Subs: Kante 6, Fuchs 6, Benalouane 6.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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