Mahrez strike helps Leicester extend lead

Leicester City extended their lead in the Premier League to five points after beating Watford 1-0 on Saturday. A stunning left foot strike by forward Riyad Mahrez gave the surprise League leaders yet another win on a day it’s two main challengers Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur drew their match 2-2.

The home side began on a positive note with Nathan Aké coming close to scoring the first goal. His header from a set pièce, hit the bar in the 10th minute. Leicester failed to make any impression in the first half with the two sides locked 0-0 going into the break.

It took a Mahrez spécial to break the deadlock. The striker scored his 15th goal of the season after executing a striking the ball from the centre of the box past the outstretched arms of the Watford goalkeeper to the left corner of the net.

Leicester could have extended the lead but they missed a number of chances to put the match beyond Watford’s reach. In the end, Mahrez ‘s goal was enough for Leicester to get three points in the away game and stretch the lead on the top of the standings to five points.

Meanwhile ,fourth placed Manchester City demolished Aston Villa 4-0 at the Etihad stadium. A brace by Sergio Aguero helped City power past Villa to close the gap to second placed Tottenham Hotspur to five points with third placed Arsenal ahead by just two points.

All four goals game in the second half with the first coming in the 48th minute courtesy Yaya Touré. Two minutes later, Aguero doubled the lead. City didn’t have to wait for long for the third as Aguero scored his second goal of the match in the 60th minute.

Raheem Sterling made it 4-0 in the 65th minute to cap an impressive performance for the hosts.

‘‘We thought it would be a tough game, but maybe at the start we played a bit below our level, but we made the changes we needed to,’’ City manager Manuel Pellegrini said after the match.