Manchester City beat Leicester City to leapfrop Liverpool into third

Kayode Ogundele
Kayode Ogundele
Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez, right celebrates scoring a goal which was disallowed for a double hit, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester

Manchester City held on to beat Leicester City 2-1 and move back into third place on Saturday, after referee Bobby Madley disallowed Riyad Mahrez’s late penalty kick for the Foxes.

Mahrez, who had been brought down by Gael Clichy, had the chance to make it 2-2 but slipped as he took his spot-kick.

In the process, he touched the ball with his right foot as well as his left as he sent it into the net.

Madley immediately ruled the goal out for a double-touch and awarded the home side a free-kick, to the relief of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his players.

The hosts had dominated the first half at the Etihad Stadium, and appeared to be cruising to victory when they went 2-0 up.

There was controversy over the home side’s first goal, which came when David Silva turned in Leroy Sane’s shot.

Leicester claimed unsuccessfully that Raheem Sterling was offside as he tried and failed to help it over the line.

Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 with a penalty kick that was a far easier decision for Madley, after Yohan Benalouane sent Sane sprawling.

Manchester City appeared to be in complete control but the mood changed when Leicester’s Shinji Okazaki met Marc Albrighton’s cross with a superb acrobatic finish.

Guardiola’s side were far less fluent after the break, while Leicester’s increased attacking threat ensured a tense finish which almost brought them a point as a reward.

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