Pro Sports

Vardy scores 3, Leicester stuns Man City in wild 5-2 win

Posted September 27, 2020 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Leicester's Jamie Vardy right, celebrates after scoring his sides second goal of the game with teammate Leicester's Timothy Castagne during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Catherine Ivill/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

MANCHESTER, England (AP) - Jamie Vardy scored a hat trick containing two penalties as Leicester came from behind to stun hosts Manchester City in a wild 5-2 win and collect a third straight victory to open the Premier League season on Sunday.

City's defense couldn't handle the pace and movement of Vardy, who won two penalties - converting both of them - either side of a brilliant finish that saw him flick the ball home at the near post with a deft backheel.

Vardy added to the two goals he scored against West Bromwich Albion on the opening weekend as he looks to back up a 2019-20 season which he ended as the league's top scorer with 23 goals.

James Maddison added a fourth for Leicester at Etihad Stadium by curling a shot into the top corner from 25 meters (yards) as City backed off the substitute, and Youri Tielemans converted a third penalty for his team in the 87th - by which time Vardy had been substituted.

Riyad Mahrez, a former Leicester player, gave City the lead in the fourth minute with an impressive strike and Nathan Ake pulled a goal back in the 84th for City, who lacked a presence up front with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus missing.

It was a concerning display by Pep Guardiola's side, which was without a slew of key players through injury and issues related to COVID-19. It came six days after City looked so assured in beating Wolverhampton 3-1 in its first match of the season.

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The first paragraph of this story has been corrected to say Jamie Vardy scored a hat trick and not his second hat trick of the season.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Leicester's Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring his sides third goal of the game from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Catherine Ivill/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Manchester City's Nathan Ake, behind Leicester's James Maddison (10), heads the ball to score his sides 2nd goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts after Leicester scored their 4th goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Catherine Ivill/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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