Leicester beats Palace 3-1 for 3rd win of EPL title defense

Posted October 22, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Leicester City's Ahmed Musa, right, celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) The Associated Press

LEICESTER, England (AP) - Leicester finally managed to transfer its Champions League form to the English Premier League, beating Crystal Palace 3-1 thanks to goals by strikers Ahmed Musa, Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs on Saturday.

Fuchs' brilliant 80th-minute strike capped only a third win of the champions' disappointing title defense, the Austria left back smashing a diagonal drive into the corner from the edge of the area at King Power stadium.

Musa struck a low shot into the corner from outside the penalty area to put Leicester in front in the 42nd minute, before Okazaki swept a low, first-time finish inside the near post to double the lead in the 63rd.

Yohan Cabaye scored Palace's consolation in the 85th.

Leicester's unbeaten run at its King Power stadium stretched to 20 league games, with this win adding to home victories over Swansea and Burnley this season. The champions' away form has been the main problem, having lost to promoted Hull and also by a three-goal margin to Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.

It's been a different story in Leicester's first-ever season in the Champions League: The team has won all three of its group games to move to the brink of qualifying for the last 16.

Jamie Vardy, one of the stars of Leicester's title triumph last season, started on the bench after a recent groin problem. He came on in the 75th.

Leicester City's Ahmed Musa, center, celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy, center, warms up before the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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