Jesus, Mkhitaryan shine

LONDON – Gabriel Jesus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan stole the headlines as Manchester City and Manchester United made up important ground in the race for Champions League qualification with wins yesterday.

Jesus, 19, marked his full home debut for City by scoring twice, including a 92nd-minute winner, to give Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-1 win over Swansea City that lifted them up to third.

Mkhitaryan scored one goal and made another in a 3-0 victory at relegation-threatened champions Leicester City that took United to within two points of the top four.

“It was really important for us. We lost two points in the last match at home and had three consecutive draws, so we needed the points,” said United manager Jose Mourinho.

“I am happy. We don’t have a league defeat since October and if we could transform the unlucky draws to victories, we would be in an amazing position.”

Mourinho’s side remain sixth, a position they have occupied since November, but Arsenal, beaten 3-1 by leaders Chelsea on Saturday, and Liverpool, stunned 2-0 by Hull City, are now within reach.

United are a point behind Liverpool, two points below fourthplace Arsenal and four points off City, who trail second-place Tottenham Hotspur by one point and Chelsea by 10.

It was Leicester’s 13th defeat of the campaign and kept Claudio Ranieri’s men a slender point above the relegation zone.

“It is important now to get the confidence,” Ranieri said. Jesus needed just 11 minutes to crown his first home start for Manchester City with a goal as he put Guardiola’s men in front against Paul Clement’s improving Swansea.