Bernardo Silva scores as Man City claim slender win at Leicester

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:04 am

Bernardo Silva scored the only goal of the game as champions Manchester City claimed all three points at Leicester City. 

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The winner came when Joao Cancelo tried his luck from distance in the 62nd minute, the ball deflected off Caglar Soyuncu into the path of Silva, who poked into the top corner.

Leicester defender Jannik Vestergaard missed a golden chance from an early corner, but he could not get a clean connection on his header and it sailed over the bar.

Ferran Torres had a number of decent chances in the first half but Kasper Schmeichel managed to avert the danger.

Leicester also spurned a great chance to break the deadlock straight after half-time. Jamie Vardy crossed to Harvey Barnes who seemed certain to score, but he headed over the bar. 

And moments later Vardy thought he had sprung the offside trap to give the home side the lead, but the flag went up for offside.

The Foxes were then made to pay as Silva found the back of the net.  

Leicester piled forward looking for an equaliser and Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman both went close, but Ederson was alert and quick off his line to save.

With his pace and assured first touch, Vardy threatened throughout and City were delighted that they managed to withstand the wave of counter-attacks that often put them on the back foot in the last half hour.

"We did really well, the process we found and we let them run a lot. We know how dangerous Jamie Vardy and also Harvey Barnes are in transition. The players were able to be focused and to concentrate," City boss Pep Guardiola told the BBC.

"Kasper Schmeichel is a really top keeper so it sometimes happens. The good thing is the amount of chances we create. This is a good thing. Of course, we would have loved to score more goals," he added.

Manchester City moved up second spot on nine points after four games, ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion on goal difference and one point behind Manchester United. Leicester are ninth on six points.

"I thought we deserved something from the game. You have to stay in the game against a team of that quality but I thought we were excellent and created a lot of chances," Leicester manager Brendan Rogers said.