United held, Villa win

27 Dec, 2020 - 00:12 0 Views
United held, Villa win

The Sunday Mail

LONDON. — In the end, it was the old-fashioned centre forwards who would prove decisive, two 33-year-olds with the experience to keep their head when big moments came.  Jamie Vardy is a phenomenon and popped up at the end to force an own goal from Axel Tuanzebe, which ensured Leicester got their just desserts from a thoroughly entertaining Boxing Day clash.

And though he didn’t score, Edinson Cavani made a crucial intervention after coming on to show Anthony Martial what leading the line really looks like.

To ensure the next generation weren’t overshadowed, Marcus Rasford scored his 50th Premier League goal at the age of 23 and Harvey Barnes hit the best goal of the match.

Perhaps it is a sign of how far Leicester have risen in the past ten years that these sides met as equals, well-matched opponents at the top end of the table.

Of course, it could equally be an indication of United’s decline.  Be that as it may, there is little to split them.  And committed as both are to attack, they delivered a sparkling game if a little loose on the defensive side.

The Leicester forward celebrated after turning the ball in off the defender’s legs with the strike going down as an own goal.

Bruno Ferandes made it 2-1 in the 79th minute after Edinson Cavani threaded the ball through for the midfielder to finish.

The introduction of Cavani proved significant as the Uruguayan came off the bench to set up the goal for Fernandes.

Harvey Barnes pulled Leicester level in the 31st minute with a fantastic left-footed strike from the edge of the box.

In a later game, Aston Villa moved up to sixth with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace despite playing half of the match with 10 men. Bertrand Traore scored early on to set Dean Smith’s side on their way but were given a blow as Tyrone Mings was sent off for two yellows cards just before half-time.

That setback appeared to spur Villa on as Kourtney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi netted in the second-half to inflict more woe on Roy Hodgson’s Eagles after their 7-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend.

 

FIXTURES: TODAY

Leeds United v Burnley 2pm

West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion 4 : 15pm

Liverpool  v West Bromwich Albion 6 : 30pm

Wolves v Spurs 9 : 15pm . Mailonline.com

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