Sports

Palace routs Leicester

February 24, 2019
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha celebrates scoring their fourth goal against Leicester during their Premier League match at King Power Stadium in Leicester Saturday. — Reuters
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha celebrates scoring their fourth goal against Leicester during their Premier League match at King Power Stadium in Leicester Saturday. — Reuters

LEICESTER — Crystal Palace recorded a comprehensive 4-1 Premier League win over Leicester, which has now gone seven games without a victory.

Two goals from Wilfried Zaha, another from Michy Batshuayi and a penalty from Luka Milivojevic inflicted a fourth consecutive league defeat on Leicester — its worst run since 2000.

But it was the manner of the performance that will have most alarmed coach Puel, with two goals conceded late on to set sections of the crowd booing.

By contrast, 71-year-old Roy Hodgson was in delighted mood as he officially became the oldest ever Premier League manager.

Leicester conceded the first goal for the 19th time this season when Batshuayi was hit by James McArthur’s shot, the ball ricocheting past Kasper Schmeichel at great pace. It was the Belgian’s first Premier League goal in 19 months.

Although Evans responded with his first goal for Leicester, after 64 minutes, Palace quickly restored its lead with a finish from close-in by Zaha, who was returning from suspension.

Milivojevic put the game beyond doubt with a spot kick after 81 minutes after Evans, making an eventful 250th appearance in the Premier League, fouled Jeffrey Schlupp.

Zaha added his second goal, and Palace’s fourth, late on after mistakes by Harry Maguire and Schmeichel.

Interviewed on television immediately after the game, Zaha appeared surprised when James Tomkins was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award. Asked to present it, Zaha joked: “Oh wow, really? Okay.”

The win put Palace six points clear of the relegation zone as it moved one place and two points behind 12th-placed Leicester.

Dzeko strikes late

Edin Dzeko scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to give Roma a precious 3-2 win at Frosinone Saturday and keep the pressure on AC Milan in the Serie A battle for Champions League places.

Roma went into the game four points behind fourth-placed Milan and were on the brink of dropping points against its relegation-threatened regional rival at the Stadio Benito Stirpe before Dzeko bundled home the last kick of the game.

Camillo Ciano opened the scoring for Frosinone after just five minutes thanks to an error from Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who parried the striker’s long-range effort into his own net.

Yet Roma took the lead after 30 minutes with two goals in the space of 72 seconds.

First, Dzeko capitalized on hesitant defending to fire in a finish and Frosinone had barely recovered before Lorenzo Pellegrini tapped in a rebound at the back post after Stephan El Shaarawy’s shot was only parried by Marco Sportiello.

The host drew level with 10 minutes left through substitute Andrea Pinamonti, but in the fifth minute of added time Roma found the winner when Dzeko met El Shaarawy’s cross from close range and finished with his thigh.

The result leaves Roma in fifth place on 44 points, one point behind Milan, while Frosinone remains in deep trouble in 19th place on 16 points, five points adrift of 17th-placed Empoli.

Earlier Saturday, Torino beat Atalanta 2-0 at home to draw level with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side and sixth-placed Lazio on 38 points thanks to goals from Armando Izzo and Iago Falque either side of the break. — Reuters


February 24, 2019
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