Grief-stricken Leicester wins against Cardiff City
Team takes emotional match after death of owner
The smiles returned briefly to the faces of Leicester’s players on Saturday following the most traumatic week of their careers.
In its first game since the death of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash last weekend, Leicester won an emotional and highly charged English Premier League soccer match at Cardiff, 1-0.
“That was a tough game, not just on the pitch, but mentally,” goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said. “I am proud of this team and the club, the way everyone has handled themselves has been unbelievable.”
James Milner scored his 50th league goal as Liverpool drew at Arsenal 1-1 to move one point clear of second-placed Manchester City. City plays on Sunday against Southampton at home.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho called himself “the luckiest manager in the Premier League” after his seventh-place side came from behind to win at Bournemouth 2-1.
Mourinho called his team’s first-half display a “disaster.”
Tottenham, in fourth position, moved within three points of Liverpool despite conceding two second-half penalties in a 3-2 win at Wolverhampton.
Newcastle claimed its first league victory in 11 games by defeating Watford, 1-0. Everton downed Brighton, 3-1, and West Ham swept past Burnley, 4-2.
On Sunday, Manchester City marched back to the top of the standings with a 6-1 victory against Southampton at the Etihad Stadium, while Chelsea breezed past Crystal Palace, 3-1, at Stamford Bridge.
Schmeichel tears
The tears shed by Schmeichel summed up the mood as a huge banner, a Thai flag with “RIP Vichai” and the Leicester badge, was unfurled before the game.
Somehow, Schmeichel and his teammates managed to put their collective grief to one side to focus on football for 90 minutes and grind out a victory.
Demarai Gray scored with a low finish in the 55th and celebrated by removing his jersey to reveal an undershirt on which was written “For Khun Vichai.” He was promptly booked by referee Lee Probert.
The Leicester fans sang Vichai’s name for the rest of the afternoon and, at the final whistle, the visiting players came together to embrace.
“We were very close to the chair,” Leicester captain Wes Morgan said. “We know what his wishes were. He used to come down at home games, have a joke and a laugh, always say, ‘Want win and three points.’ It has not been an easy week, we had to try and hold our emotions in today and do the best we can.”
Liverpool held
Liverpool and fifth-place Arsenal had a first-half goal disallowed for offside in an entertaining clash at Emirates Stadium.
Milner eventually gave Liverpool the lead on the hour after goalkeeper Bernd Leno spilled a cross, but Alexandre Lacazette equalized with a curling shot in the 82nd minute after good work by the impressive Alex Iwobi.
United rallies
Callum Wilson gave Bournemouth an early lead but United hit back with a goal from Anthony Martial, his fifth in five games, in the 35th minute.
Substitute Marcus Rashford scored the winner two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the match after a surging run down the left and a pinpoint centre from Paul Pogba.