LEICESTER — Shinji Okazaki scored with a spectacular overhead kick as Leicester City overcame Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United 1-0 to restore a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Monday
Leicester struck after 25 minutes when the flying Japanese beat goalkeeper Rob Elliot from close range after striker Jamie Vardy nodded the ball across the danger area.
Claudio Ranieri’s men have 63 points with eight matches to go, five ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, 11 in front of third-placed Arsenal and 12 ahead of Manchester City who both have a game in hand.
Leicester have been consistent all season, having now ground out 12 wins by a one-goal margin, more than any other team, and went about the task with the usual aim to put their opponents under pressure at the King Power Stadium.
However, they managed just one shot on target, albeit a special strike, against a battling Newcastle who remain second-bottom on 24 points, one behind Norwich City and north-east rivals Sunderland.
“Shinji works his socks off week-in, week-out so he deserves something like that. A special goal, a special moment for us,” Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater told Sky Sports television.
“We got the goal and kind of sat back I think. It was pretty ugly on our side but it’s the three points that matter.”
“It wasn’t the best performance from us but we showed fantastic spirit,” said Leicester manager Claudo Ranieri.
“We defended very well…and we fought. It wasn’t nervy in the second half, the team were so close and compact.
Spaniard Benitez, who joined Newcastle on a three-year contract on Friday to replace the sacked Steve McClaren, having himself been fired by Real Madrid in January, could not have faced a much tougher opening fixture.
Leicester winger Marc Albrighton kept Newcastle’s defence on their toes and it was from his cross that they scored.
Okazaki had it all to do when he received the ball with his back to goal but the Japanese guided the ball expertly into the corner.
“They (Leicester) are playing a very, very high tempo. It’s not easy for any team. I was not happy (with the goal) because too many balls were bouncing around a lot,” said Benitez.
Newcastle worked hard to get back into the match but did not create any clear-cut chances and Benitez now has an even bigger task on his hands to keep his side up with a crunch match at home to Sunderland, who are fourth from bottom, on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ranieri has once again sidestepped the notion that his side were heading for unexpected glory.
“No, the race is open. We are fighting (to qualify) for Europe and then maybe with four or five matches left, maybe we are fighting for the Champions League,” Ranieri told Sky Sports.
“We are so strong, we think only one game at a time.
“I am just concentrating now on the next game against Crystal Palace (on Saturday). Step-by-step, that is our philosophy.”
Ranieri has been singing the same post-match tune all season, saying earlier in the campaign that Leicester, who made an unlikely escape from relegation last term, were just looking to get enough points to stay in the top flight.
Now they need a maximum of 20 points from the last eight games to clinch their first top-flight title and City are grinding out narrow wins with a consistency that has left their illustrious pursuers trailing in their wake. REUTERS
