Huge let-off for Man City as bizarre Riyad Mahrez penalty for Leicester is disallowed
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Updated 13/05/2017 at 14:59 GMT
Premier League, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 2 (Silva 29, Jesus 36 pen) Leicester City 1 (Okazaki 42)
Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City reacts
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Manchester City grabbed all three points in their penultimate home game after a frantic, dramatic encounter saw them defeat Leicester City 2-1.
City took the lead in controversial circumstances as Raheem Sterling may have touched David Silva’s goalbound effort in an offside position, and they went two up after Gabriel Jesus scored from the spot.
Shinji Okazaki pulled one back but Riyad Mahrez had a late penalty ruled out after it went in off his standing leg and City held on.
There was a large element of doubt about City’s opener, Sterling possibly getting the slightest of touches on Silva’s goalbound shot but in an offside position. Even with the benefit of slow motion replays, contact was impossible to verify and the benefit of the doubt went with the hosts.
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David Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Leroy Sane of Manchester City
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If the opener was questionable, there was little doubt about City’s second, Jesus sending Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way from the spot after Yohan Benalouane clumsily fouled Leroy Sane in the box.
Just as it appeared as if Pep Guardiola’s men may run riot against Leicester’s makeshift defence minus Robert Huth and Wes Morgan, Okazaki volleyed one back from Marc Albrighton’s pinpoint cross to give them hope before the break.
Then came two huge decisions that went in City’s favour, Robert Madley failing to spot an elbow from Fernandinho on Marc Albrighton that could have led to a red card before correctly disallowing Mahrez’s penalty as he slipped upon striking the ball and kicked it against his standing leg.
As it stands, City climb to third, two points above Liverpool who are away to West Ham tomorrow. They are also six points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Leroy Sane (Man City): 100% pass accuracy in the opening half, shots, crosses and chances created aplenty. Just shades Yaya Toure’s fantastic work and tackle rate.
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Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City scores his sides first goal
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PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Caballero 6, Fernandinho 5, Kompany 6, Otamendi 6, Clichy 6, Yaya Toure 7, De Bruyne 7, Silva 7, Sterling 6, Sane 8, Gabriel Jesus 7. Subs: Aguero 6, Zabaleta 6, Navas 6.
Leicester City: Schmeichel 6, Simpson 6, Benalouane 5, Fuchs 6, Chilwell 7, Mahrez 6, Ndidi 6, King 6, Albrighton 7, Okazaki 7, Vardy 6. Subs: Slimani 6, Gray 6, Amartey 6.
KEY MOMENTS
29’ – GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City: David Silva opens the scoring. Or does he? It wasn’t the cleanest connection from Silva and there’s a bit of confusion as to whether it should stand… was Sterling in an offside position getting a touch?
36’ – GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Leicester City: Jesus sends Schmeichel the wrong way from the spot after Benalouane clumsily fouled Sane in the box.
42’ – GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Leicester City: It’s a great finish from Okazaki on the volley from Albrighton’s great cross. That came from nowhere!
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Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City scores a penalty which is later disallowed
Image credit: Getty Images
64’ – Fernandinho a lucky boy! He clatters into Albrighton with a raised elbow, causing a nasty black eye. There could be retrospective punishment. Looked a straight red.
77’ – MAHREZ PENALTY DISALLOWED! An eagle eyed spot from Robert Madley and his best decision of the match as the midfielder slips, the ball rebounding into the net off his standing leg. Like in tennis or golf, a double hit is not allowed.
KEY STATS
Leicester have lost 17 games in the Premier League this season, more than any other reigning Premier League champions.
Shinji Okazaki scored for the first time since December, ending a run of 23 games across all competitions without scoring.
David Silva has now been involved in more Premier League goals since 2011/12 than any other midfielder.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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