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Home , Joel Ward (footballer), Johanna Konta, Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Wilfried Zaha

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LONDON: Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, right, vies for the ball with Crystal Palace’s during the English soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge stadium in London yesterday. — AP

SOCCER Zaha, Benteke stun leaders Chelsea

Antonio Conte’s side had taken the lead turned home at the near post by Fabregas. his birth, prompting angry responses from Zaha’s play a return pass to Benteke, who produced a through Cesc Fabregas’s fifth-minute effort, but The signs were ominous for Allardyce’s men, agent and Steve Parish, the Palace chairman. nerveless finish, lifting the ball over the prone Chelsea 1 the visitors hit back first through the outstanding whose improved recent form has owed more to Zaha, though, showed his focus was entirely on Courtois. The onus was now on Chelsea to force Zaha, four minutes later, and then Benteke. resilient defensive work rather than their attacking club matters when he revived Palace’s hopes with their way back into the game and Conte’s side The visitors then held on to claim a fourth suc- prowess. Had Chelsea been allowed to settle and a superb individual effort. inevitably dominated possession for the remain- cessive win that strengthened their bid to avoid establish their superiority after taking the lead, The former Manchester United winger drifted der of the first half. They were unable, however, Crystal Palace 2 relegation. Sam Allardyce had warned his side Palace’s confidence might have started to fade. past two Chelsea defenders before placing a shot to find a way through the combination of would have to score first if they were to have any Instead, Allardyce’s side struck back quickly across Thibaut Courtois after being released by Palace’s determined defenders and goalkeeper chance of getting something out of this game. through Zaha, who has been a constant threat dur- Benteke’s flick from Ward’s cross. . LONDON: Chelsea’s march towards the Premier On that basis, the Palace manager must have ing Palace’s recent upturn. Like Hazard, the Palace Two minutes later, Palace took control of the The Wales international produced a succession League title was stalled as goals from Wilfried Zaha feared the worst when Fabregas put the home side winger found himself the subject of debate last game after the Chelsea defence was again found of fine saves, including one with his legs to repel and earned Crystal Palace a ahead. had been doubtful for this week, in Zaha’s case over his decision to commit his wanting. This time Benteke led a breakaway after Costa’s volley. The pattern of play was maintained shock 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge yesterday. game, having sat out the trip to Stoke City and international future to Ivory Coast and not England. winning the ball in the Palace half, advancing deep in the second half, with Chelsea enjoying an even Defeat ended Chelsea’s run of 13 successive both of Belgium’s matches last week with a calf into Chelsea territory before benefiting from a for- greater share of possession. But Palace still had home wins and enabled second-place Tottenham problem. But the winger quickly confirmed he was NERVELESS BENTEKE tunate ricochet after being challenged by David chances to extend their lead, with Zaha denied by Hotspur to cut their lead to seven points with nine back to his best by tormenting Palace right-back England manager expressed Luiz. The ball rolled into the path of Zaha, who had a good Courtois save before two Yohan Cabaye games remaining. before drilling in a low cross that was disappointment about his defection to the land of time and space on the left of the Chelsea box to free-kicks almost led to a third goal. — AFP Shakespeare fairytale Konta beats Wozniacki continues as Foxes win

for Miami play before their Champions League quarter-final into a desperate block. The resulting corner found against Atletico Madrid, the Midlands club could be its way to Shinji Okazaki, whose overhead kick from all but safe from relegation before the next chapter 15 yards looped just over. Open title Leicester City 2 of their European adventure. The first chance fell to January signing Saido Berahino had been quiet Leicester in the seventh minute after midfielder for Stoke but he had a sight of goal 10 minutes from MIAMI: Johanna Konta defeated Danny Drinkwater lofted a dangerous free-kick into half-time when he collected a neat pass by 6-4, 6-3 to win the Stoke City 0 the Stoke goalmouth. Ramadan Sobhi and sent a tame shot at Leicester yesterday - the biggest title It was flicked on by and took two goalkeeper . But the hosts posed won by a British woman in 40 years. deflections to the feet of Yohan Benalouane, who the greater threat and Grant had to make a smart Konta, who had never won an elite was deputising again at centre-back for injured save to keep out a 20-yard drive from Riyad Mahrez. WTA premier mandatory event, will LEICESTER: Craig Shakespeare became the first captain . But he fired a cross-shot The second Leicester goal arrived just 76 sec- move to number seven in the world Englishman to win his first four matches as a across the face of goal and wide of the far post. onds into the second half as Stoke were punished rankings with the victory. Premier League manager after reigning champions Leicester almost led in the ninth minute after for failing to start quickly after the interval. She began superbly, breaking to love Leicester City moved closer to top-flight survival Stoke captain was booked for a Simpson was given room on the right to cross, in the opening game before Wozniacki with a 2-0 victory at home to Stoke City yesterday. crude challenge on Demarai Gray. The resultant Johnson was caught napping at the far post and swiftly broke back to level at 2-2. After Victory saw Shakespeare join some of football’s free-kick was delivered by onto the Vardy crept in to volley home. Mahrez should have another break each, the Briton took most high-profile coaches Portugal’s Jose head of Huth, whose goal-bound effort was cleared put the victory beyond doubt for Leicester in the advantage of two double-faults from the Mourinho, Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti, the Netherlands’ off the line by Erik Pieters. Gray recovered from his 64th minute when he raced forward to meet a cross Dane to break to 5-4 and serve out for Guus Hiddink and Spain’s Pep Guardiola-in an heavy blow and might have put the hosts in front in by Vardy after an electric break by the striker. the set. exclusive club. the 24th minute when his long-range shot flashed But the Algerian’s effort was too close to Grant, There was a similar pattern to the Wilfred Ndidi’s long-range rocket and Jamie just wide. But it was an unlikely goalscorer who put who saved well. A rare Stoke break then ended with start of the second set, with the pair Vardy’s latest goal saw the Foxes triumph at their Leicester ahead in the 25th minute. Marko Arnautovic crossing for substitute Peter exchanging breaks in the first two game. King Power Stadium, with victory taking Leicester Crouch, but the former England man side-footed The key moment came when Konta to 33 points, just three behind Stoke, who kicked off NDIDI’S STUNNING STRIKE wide. Arnautovic had the ball in the net 20 minutes broke to go 4-3 up, with a little help from in ninth place. January signing Ndidi scored his first Nigeria’s Ndidi collected a square pass from from time but he was denied by an offside flag. the net cord. Premier League goal in style while England striker Danny Simpson and and unleashed a fabulous Vardy could then feel aggrieved not to be given Konta then broke again, with a lob on KEY BISCAYNE: Johanna Konta of Great Britain holds the Vardy grabbed his fourth goal in as many games. right-footed shot that bent into the top corner of the chance for a second goal when he won a tower- match-point, to secure the biggest win of winner’s trophy after defeating Caroline Wozniacki of For all the controversy over Leicester’s decision Lee Grant’s net from 25 yards. ing header and found Mahrez before bursting into her career and the best by a British Denmark after the Women’s Final on Day 13 of the Miami to sack title-winning manager , there Gray was tormenting Stoke with his quick foot- space for a return pass, only for Mahrez to try a shot woman since won Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center yesterday in Key is no denying their resurgence under Shakespeare. work and a fabulous trick in the 34th minute took that flew wide. — AFP Wimbledon in 1977. — AFP Biscayne, Florida. — AFP This result means that with two more games to him away from Glen Johnson and forced Shawcross