Maddison free-kick outfoxes Terriers
JAMES MADDISON watched Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray earn England recognition at the King Power Stadium during the last international break but it is only a matter of time before Gareth Southgate turns to the player who has quickly become an influential presence for Leicester.
This was a match that hung in the balance until Maddison’s intervention with 66 minutes on the clock. Huddersfield were sitting and Leicester were pushing, but more was needed. It was the 21-year-old who assumed responsibility.
Maddison monopolises Leicester free-kicks but when he strikes them as well as this nobody will complain. He hit the ball over the wall and though it was not quite in the corner the velocity defeated Jonas Lossl.
A third goal of a first Premier League campaign for Maddison edged his team in front and with it Huddersfield were beaten. Jamie Vardy added a third with a brilliant finish, marginally better than Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half equaliser, and by the end of proceedings Claude Puel had a good victory to push back those perennial doubts about his tenure.
For Huddersfield this was a game they led and competed in but ultimately lost by some margin. David Wagner’s words have acted like rocket fuel against the gravity of his club’s finances since he took over but the hardest battle lies ahead.
The surprise factor of a debut top flight campaign has gone, so keeping his team up for a second season would require him to reconfigure his side, to find new ways of hurting opponents.
Against Leicester that included long throws. And the first after just four minutes paid dividends. Philip Billing launched the ball into Leicester’s box and Laurent Depoitre got the better of Wilfred Ndidi to flick on. Mathias Jorgensen then swept in a shot that Kasper Schmeichel got a good hand to but could not keep out.
For just the third time this season Huddersfield’s fans were cheering a goal, but their lead lasted only 14 minutes. And it all came from their own corner. Maddison spotted the counter and slipped a fine pass forwards to Vardy, who unselfishly rolled it on again to Iheanacho. Through on goal but with opponents in pursuit, the Nigerian striker was a figure of calmness. He waited for the angle and then, from 18 yards, placed a left-foot shot into the far corner.
In the 63rd minute the visitors had a glorious chance to retake the lead when Rajiv Van La Parra put through Depoitre only for Harry Maguire to prod out a last-ditch toe to send the ball behind. Depoitre’s look of disbelief only grew when referee David Coote signalled for a goal-kick. Within two minutes Maddison had scored and then, with 16 minutes left, Vardy made the result certain. Iheanacho delivered a quick pass that he sped onto before chipping a delightful finish over Lossl. ‘Our second half was better because we found a little more space,’ said Puel. ‘I’m happy with our reaction and character.’
Wagner said: ‘It’s very disappointing. We made too many big mistakes. Every Leicester goal was like a present.’ leiceSter (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Amartey 7, Evans 6.5, Maguire 7.5, Chilwell 7; Ndidi 6.5, Mendy 7; Ghezzal 5 (Gray 46min, 6), Iheanacho 7.5 (Albrighton 77), Maddison 8 (Okazaki 85); Vardy 7.5. Booked: Ndidi, Ghezzal. Subs (not used): Ward, Ricardo, Silva, Fuchs. hudderSfield (3-4-3): Lossl 6.5; Kongolo 6 (Pritchard 72, 6), Jorgensen 6.5, Schindler 6; Durm 6, Billing 6, Mooy 6, Lowe 6; Van La Parra 5, Depoitre 6.5, Kachunga 6 (Diakhaby 56, 5). Booked: Kongolo. Subs (not used): Hogg, Hamer, Mbenza, Mounie, Hadergjonaj. referee: D Coote 4.