THE DESTROYER!
Vardy’s goal joy wrecks corner flag
JAMIE Vardy struck a last-gasp goal to secure a much-needed victory for Leicester City at Sheffield United.
The City talisman, a boyhood Sheffield Wednesday fan, raced clear and finished coolly with time ticking, earning a first win in five for Brendan Rodgers’ side, avoiding what would have been the longest winless run of the Northern Irishman’s tenure.
The victory took City back into the top four, with more wins than any other side in the division. Those four fixtures without a win can now be banished from memory.
And on the balance of play, it was what City had deserved. They had taken the lead through surprise selection Ayoze Perez, the Spaniard in the right place at the right time to smash home.
Perez, making his first start in 11 games, also set up chances for Vardy and James Maddison that cannoned off the post in the first period.
But it was level at the break, with the Blades’ only shot finding the net, Oli McBurnie heading in from a corner.
It looked like that goal would earn the hosts just their second point of the season, but City avoided what would have been considered another slip-up thanks to Vardy’s last-minute winner, the number nine finishing after Maddison’s through ball.
Perez’s surprise inclusion came amid 10 changes from the defeat to Zorya Luhansk, only James Justin keeping his place, and the spine of the team – Kasper Schmeichel, Jonny Evans, Youri Tielemans, and Vardy – after they were left out of the trip to Ukraine.
A fresher team made for a lively start, and City nearly had the lead inside 10 minutes. Perez was the creator, dropping into the pocket and teasing a ball through to Vardy, who lashed against the inside of the post.
Keen to get in behind, City were caught offside a few times, but the pressure was building, and the ball eventually fell to Perez to open the scoring.
A deep cross was chest-and-volleyed by Marc Albrighton, his effort blocked but not cleared, with Perez in the right place to smash against Aaron Ramsdale and into the net. The Spaniard had not even been in the matchday squad for four of the previous five Premier League matches, but responded to Rodgers’ show of faith by popping up in the right place.
City’s good work and Perez’s goal was almost immediately cancelled out, and it was a familiar failing that allowed United back into the match.
City were level with Blades and Leeds at the top of the goals conceded from set-pieces table at the start of the day, but took an out
Perez’s surprise inclusion came amid 10 changes from the defeat to Zorya, only James Justin keeping his place
right lead when they allowed McBurnie to connect with a corner and nod beyond Kasper Schmeichel’s outstretched arm. That’s now six goals City have conceded from set-pieces in the Premier League this season.
The goal took the wind out of City’s sails, and they didn’t reassert their dominance until late in the half.
Only desperate Blades blocks prevented City from testing Ramsdale, and then, on the stroke of half-time, Perez teed up James Maddison to rifle a shot into the same post that had earlier denied Vardy.
Their control of possession and territory continued into the second half, but it took 20 minutes for a chance to fall City’s way.
Christian Fuchs’ deep free-kick was caught, then spilled by Ramsdale, and Youri Tielemans reacted quickest to get a shot away. The Blades keeper spared his own blushes leaping in front of the Belgian’s effort, deflecting it over the bar.
City made changes to force the issue, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi brought on, the latter making his first Premier League outing since September. Iheanacho made an immediate impact, clipping a ball over the top that Ramsdale only just beat Vardy to, and then playing a pair of one-twos with Maddison to get in behind, only for Kean Bryan to get a toe as he shaped to shoot. It looked like it wouldn’t be City’s day, that all their huff and puff would not create enough decent openings for them to find a winner.
But who can doubt Vardy? The boyhood Wednesday fan had been frustrated up to the final moment, but he never loses hope or desire. Maddison threaded the ball through, Vardy raced ahead of the defender, and finished as calmly as ever.
He celebrated wildly, two-footing the corner flag into smithereens. If City have to pay for a new one, the three points will be worth the price.