Late Vardy strike sees Leicester City win

LONDON: A 90th-minute goal from striker Jamie Vardy gave Leicester City a 2-1 win at Sheffield United in the Premier League on Sunday, lifting the Foxes back into the top four while leaving the Blades rooted to the bottom of the table.

Leicester moved up to third on 21 points from 11 games, while Sheffield United stayed in last place with one point, after stretching their winless league run to 14 games dating back to the end of last season.

Vardy netted a trademark winner as he raced clear through the middle and steered his shot past Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after Oliver McBurnie had cancelled out an Ayoze Perez opener for the visitors.

Perez gave the Foxes a 24th-minute lead when he powered in a close-range volley but McBurnie equalised three minutes later as he headed home a John Lundstram corner.

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha scored twice on his return to the team following illness and Christian Benteke also grabbed a double in the second half as they cruised to a 5-1 win over 10-man West Bromwich Albion.

Ivorian Zaha marked his comeback from self-isolation after contracting Covid-19 by curling the ball in on his 200th Premier League start and doubled his tally by tapping home after a fine run from Eberechi Eze to seal the victory at The Hawthorns.

Benteke got his first goal of the campaign with a header and then struck late on as Palace’s Roy Hodgson equalled the Premier League record for most wins for a manager against his former teams, joining Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce on 11 victories.

Palace started the game brightly and got the breakthrough as Zaha’s whipped cross after a quick free kick was turned into the net by West Brom defender Darnell Furlong in the eighth minute.

Furlong made amends later in the first half by setting up Conor Gallagher, who rolled in the equaliser for his second goal in as many league games.

But the game changed when promoted West Brom went a man down as Matheus Pereira was dismissed for kicking out at Patrick van Aanholt after a tussle..

Manchester United roared back to beat West Ham United 3-1 on Saturday, while Chelsea moved top of the standings y the same scoreline over Leeds United as fans returned to the English top-flight for the first time in nine months.

United fell behind at the London Stadium, but for the fifth consecutive away league game came back to win as a three-goal blitz from Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford turned the tables in a 13-minute spell after half-time.

United are one point ahead of Manchester City, who earlier cruised past Fulham 2-0. But they were needed to inspire a second-half turnaround after Tomas Soucek’s goal seven minutes before half-time gave West Ham a deserved lead at the break.

Cheered on by 2,000 fans in their cavernous 60,000-seat stadium, the Hammers should have been further ahead but squandered their chances.

Pogba started the fightback in the 65th minute with a superb strike and minutes later United were ahead, Greenwood turning and firing home in the area.

Rashford struck a post as United looked to extend their lead, and it was the England striker who made it 3-1 12 minutes from time.

Chelsea also came from a goal down to win 3-1 as fans made a return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since March. Patrick Bamford gave Leeds a shock early lead as he took advantage of hesitation in the Chelsea defence to round Edouard Mendy and slot home his eighth goal of the season.

Timo Werner denied Giroud a quick response by clearing his strike partner’s goalbound header onto the crossbar.

However, Giroud, who earned a rare Premier League start after scoring four against Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday, levelled on 27 minutes from Reece James’s low cross.

Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal ensured Werner continued to have a frustrating night in front of goal, but Chelsea finally made their chances count when Kurt Zouma headed home Mason Mount’s corner.

And in stoppage time, Werner turned provider for Christian Pulisic to secure all three points.

City made a superb start at the Etihad, with Raheem Sterling putting them ahead inside five minutes to end his recent goal drought after a delightfully weighted Kevin De Bruyne through-ball.

De Bruyne doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Sterling was brought down by Joachim Andersen.