Maddison dedicates wonder strike to former owner
LAST week the ridiculous, this week the sublime. James Maddison spent last Saturday night apologising to fans for a dive that earned him a red card at Brighton.
Seven days on and it was adulation pouring in the other direction after one of the most brilliant goals the King Power Stadium has seen.
It helped Leicester to a straight-forward home win over Watford but the big moment will be better remembered than the result.
The goal started and ended with Maddison: first, a smart angled pass into the feet of Jamie Vardy. Vardy spun and with two touches sent Marc Albrighton away down the right.
Watford were struggling to get back and with a lofted cross-field ball Albrighton split them apart and put it on to the right boot of Maddison 25 yards out.
Then, the magic: right foot, left shoulder, left knee, right foot.
The ball didn’t touch the ground as Maddison juggled it through two defenders and slammed it into Ben Foster’s bottom corner as it dropped.
He fell to his knees and pointed to the sky in celebration after doubling Leicester’s lead with Vardy having opened the scoring from the penalty spot after the striker was fouled by Foster.
This is a first home Premier League win for Leicester since Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s death and with his son Khun Top watching on what was another emotional day here.
‘I pointed to the heavens for Khun,’ Maddison said. ‘He came into the changing room before the tragedy and said, “my No10, you are due a goal”. That one was for him.
‘I made a mistake last week and I was the first one to hold my hands up. I needed to make amends and thankfully I did that. Hopefully that is in the past now.’
Watford fans paid tribute to their opponents’ owner with a banner reading: ‘Thank you Vichai for allowing us all to dream.’ Khun Top repaid the gesture with free food and drink for the away following.
But his team were less hospitable. Leicester broke the deadlock with Vardy’s penalty after an exciting end-to-end opening, doubled their lead with Maddison’s wonder goal and sent Watford to a third defeat in four matches with Etienne Capoue sent off for good measure.