Football

Vardy shreds City

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy celebrates his second goal against Manchester City during their Premier League match at the King Power Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: Reuters

Jamie Vardy broke his three-month goal drought with a hattrick as Premier League champions Leicester City sensationally inflicted a humiliating 4-2 defeat on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Saturday.

At a rain-sodden King Power Stadium, Vardy hit his first top-flight treble and Andy King also found the net to ensure Leicester atoned for their 5-0 Champions League mauling by Porto.

City, who replied through Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito, had previously fallen to a stormy 3-1 loss at home to Chelsea and lie four points below new leaders Arsenal, who beat Stoke City 3-1.

Nolito's late goal spared Guardiola from his joint-heaviest league defeat as a manager, but the game exposed huge flaws in a defence that has registered just one clean sheet in 17 matches.

With Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho banned after being sent off against Chelsea, Guardiola had to reshape his team, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Fernando selected to deputise.

But his plans fell apart in less than five minutes as quick-fire goals by Vardy and King put the champions in charge.

With less than three minutes on the clock, Riyad Mahrez's pass was helped on by Islami Slimani for Vardy, who drilled home his first Leicester goal since September 10.

Two minutes and 15 seconds later, City failed to clear a long throw-in and Slimani teed up King to arc a fine shot into the top-left corner.

After Slimani had volleyed over, Leicester added a third, Mahrez's exquisite cushioned pass releasing Vardy to round Claudio Bravo and roll in his second.

City, who remain fourth, bossed the second half, but Vardy completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute after seizing on a wretched John Stones back-pass, rendering Kolarov's free-kick and Nolito's goal anecdotal.

The match completed a day that featured 29 goals in six games, with all six home teams scoring at least three goals.

Mesut Ozil's crafty header inspired Arsenal to a comeback victory over Stoke as Arsene Wenger's side supplanted Chelsea at the summit.

Charlie Adam's penalty put Stoke ahead at the Emirates Stadium, but Theo Walcott equalised before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain teed up Ozil to float a delightful header over Lee Grant in the 49th minute.

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Vardy shreds City

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy celebrates his second goal against Manchester City during their Premier League match at the King Power Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: Reuters

Jamie Vardy broke his three-month goal drought with a hattrick as Premier League champions Leicester City sensationally inflicted a humiliating 4-2 defeat on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Saturday.

At a rain-sodden King Power Stadium, Vardy hit his first top-flight treble and Andy King also found the net to ensure Leicester atoned for their 5-0 Champions League mauling by Porto.

City, who replied through Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito, had previously fallen to a stormy 3-1 loss at home to Chelsea and lie four points below new leaders Arsenal, who beat Stoke City 3-1.

Nolito's late goal spared Guardiola from his joint-heaviest league defeat as a manager, but the game exposed huge flaws in a defence that has registered just one clean sheet in 17 matches.

With Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho banned after being sent off against Chelsea, Guardiola had to reshape his team, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Fernando selected to deputise.

But his plans fell apart in less than five minutes as quick-fire goals by Vardy and King put the champions in charge.

With less than three minutes on the clock, Riyad Mahrez's pass was helped on by Islami Slimani for Vardy, who drilled home his first Leicester goal since September 10.

Two minutes and 15 seconds later, City failed to clear a long throw-in and Slimani teed up King to arc a fine shot into the top-left corner.

After Slimani had volleyed over, Leicester added a third, Mahrez's exquisite cushioned pass releasing Vardy to round Claudio Bravo and roll in his second.

City, who remain fourth, bossed the second half, but Vardy completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute after seizing on a wretched John Stones back-pass, rendering Kolarov's free-kick and Nolito's goal anecdotal.

The match completed a day that featured 29 goals in six games, with all six home teams scoring at least three goals.

Mesut Ozil's crafty header inspired Arsenal to a comeback victory over Stoke as Arsene Wenger's side supplanted Chelsea at the summit.

Charlie Adam's penalty put Stoke ahead at the Emirates Stadium, but Theo Walcott equalised before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain teed up Ozil to float a delightful header over Lee Grant in the 49th minute.

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হাসিনাকে প্রত্যর্পণে ভারতকে কূটনৈতিক নোট পাঠানো হয়েছে: পররাষ্ট্র উপদেষ্টা

পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয়ে সাংবাদিকদের বলেন, ‘বিচারিক প্রক্রিয়ার জন্য বাংলাদেশ সরকার তাকে (হাসিনা) ফেরত চায়—জানিয়ে আমরা ভারত সরকারের কাছে একটি নোট ভারবাল (কূটনৈতিক বার্তা) পাঠিয়েছি।’

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