Premier League 2024-25: Chelsea survives late scare from Leicester to seal 2-1 win

Last updated:Nov 23, 2024 8:58 PM IST

It was Maresca’s first game for King Power since returning Leicester to the Premier League in his only season at the club last season.

Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer celebrate for Chelsea (AFP)

Chelsea survived a late Leicester rally to win 2-1 on Enzo Maresca’s return to the King Power Stadium on Saturday, moving just a point behind Manchester City in second place in the Premier League.

The visitors, finding their feet after the international break, grabbed the ball from the kick-off and Nicolas Jackson gave them a deserved early lead.

But they only managed to make the most of their superiority 15 minutes from time, when Enzo Fernandez scored to make it 2-0, before surviving a nerve-wracking few minutes after Jordan Ayew pulled a goal back for the home side.

Chelsea’s victory, which came after two draws, takes them to 22 points – one behind City and three ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal ahead of the later kick-off on Saturday.

It was Maresca’s first game for King Power since returning Leicester to the Premier League in his only season at the club last season.

Chelsea turned the ball around with confidence in the opening stages on a rain-soaked afternoon in England’s Midlands.

Joao Felix, making his first Premier League start of the season, shot wide in the 13th minute and a minute later he fired over from just outside the box.

But moments later Chelsea got the goal they deserved when Jackson won his battle with Leicester defender Wout Faes, who missed a number of clearing opportunities.

The ball fell to Fernandez, who discovered Jackson and poked the Senegal forward home with the outside of his right foot for his seventh league goal of the season.

Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen stopped Noni Madueke’s sharp effort and just after the half hour, Madueke had a goal disallowed due to tight offside against Marc Cucurella.

But as the first period progressed, there was a momentum shift and Leicester suddenly started to look more dangerous.

Steve Cooper’s men broke the pace and Oliver Skipp found Kasey McAteer on the right.

McAteer, making his full Premier League debut, cut inside but sent his shot just past the far post.

Wilfred Ndidi then shot wide as halftime approached.

Chelsea looked confident of doubling their lead ten minutes after the restart, but somehow managed to squander the chance when Madueke blocked Cole Palmer’s shot on the goal line.

It came after Hermansen saved Jackson’s shot.

England international Madueke did his best to jump out of the way of Palmer’s attempt but the ball hit him and rolled out for a goal-kick, with Palmer seeing the funny side.

But Chelsea did find the net in the 75th minute when Fernandez headed home after Hermansen stopped Jackson’s header.

Leicester substitute Ayew pulled a goal back from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time after Bobby De Cordova-Reid was brought down, but it was too little too late.

Leicester, the 2016 Premier League champions, are just three points above the relegation zone.

Cooper’s problems increased this week when the Leicester boss announced that winger Abdul Fatawu would miss the rest of the season due to a “serious” knee injury.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)

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