Leicester vs Southampton Report
Scorers: Vardy 17’, Ayew 44’
Leicester City ended a dismal nine-game Premier League losing streak and finally found the net at home, defeating already-doomed Southampton 2-0 at the King Power Stadium. Jamie Vardy’s landmark strike and a fortuitous second from Jordan Ayew secured a rare win for the Foxes, while Southampton’s miserable campaign hit a new low with confirmation of a last-place finish.
First Half – Vardy Scores 199th Leicester Goal
In a game with little more than pride at stake, both sides entered the contest in torrid form and with relegation long confirmed. Yet it was Leicester who showed the greater early urgency, and they got their reward in the 22nd minute. Bilal El Khannouss’ low ball across the box was met by Jamie Vardy, who steered home his 199th goal for the club and ended the Foxes’ run of nine straight home games without a goal.
The match was halted shortly after due to a bizarre incident involving referee David Webb, who had to be replaced by the fourth official after colliding with Jordan Ayew. That stoppage didn’t disrupt Leicester’s rhythm, and just minutes after the restart, Ayew turned scorer. His initial free-kick struck the wall, but the rebound fell kindly and the forward made no mistake with his second effort, lashing through a crowded box to double the lead.
Second Half – Saints Show Little Fight
The Foxes continued to look the better side in the second half and could have made it 3-0 when El Khannouss weaved past Taylor Harwood-Bellis only to curl his shot over the bar. Southampton did have the ball in the net through Mateus Fernandes, but his close-range effort was ruled out for offside, quelling what little threat the visitors had offered.
As the game wore on, the south coast side failed to muster any real response. In contrast, Leicester remained lively and came close again when El Khannouss carried the ball from deep before dragging his shot wide. A special moment arrived late on as 16-year-old Jake Evans made his senior debut, offering a silver lining on what has been a largely gloomy campaign for the Foxes.
What It Means
While Leicester’s win won’t alter their relegation fate, it gives fans something to cheer and closes the gap on 18th-placed Ipswich. Southampton, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom and are now guaranteed to finish 20th, needing at least one point from their remaining matches to avoid matching Derby County’s infamous 11-point season.
Key Stats
- Leicester scored at home for the first time in 10 Premier League matches.
- Jamie Vardy netted his 199th goal for Leicester City.
- Southampton are now winless in 11 league matches (D2, L9) and will finish bottom of the table.
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Leicester v Southampton, 2024/25 | Premier League