First match back
Tielemans swung a cross into the six-yard box where Iheanacho was arriving to guide the ball home. Vardy had a chance to quickly double the lead but, from a tight angle, fired his shot into the side-netting. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was worked for the first time after an hour and did well to smother Gary Cahill’s goalbound header. The moment Vardy had been waiting for arrived in the 77th minute. A defensive error from Palace saw Sakho mis-control Vincente Guaita’s short goal-kick, slipping and gifting the ball to Harvey Barnes. Vardy sensed the danger – and the history at stake
– and raced into the box where Barnes teed him up for a simple tap-in.
Of Vardy’s 100 goals, few would have been easier.
Of the 29 players to become Premier League centurions, only Ian Wright (aged 28 years 286 days) made his debut in the competition at an older age than Vardy (at 27 years 232 days).
Palace tried to get back into the match but Schmeichel was never really troubled and Leicester caught them on the break in stoppage time, with Barnes again putting Vardy through on goal – the striker coolly clipped his finish over the advancing Guaita.