JOHN TERRY AND Ramires struck late to give Chelsea a 3-1 come-from-behind victory at Leicester City tonight.
Jose Mourinho’s side extended their lead over both Manchester City and Arsenal to 13 points with a gutsy win at the King Power Stadium that showcased their character. And now Chelsea, unbeaten in 14 league games, can secure English football’s greatest prize for the first time since 2010 with victory against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Leicester, who had won four matches in a row to move out of the relegation zone they had occupied since November, lost Andy King and Robert Huth in the first 25 minutes to injuries, but still took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Marc Albrighton.
The hosts were the better side in the first half, but Chelsea responded like champions do, with Didier Drogba levelling proceedings in the 48th minute. Chelsea captain Terry then struck with 11 minutes remaining before a Ramires stunner capped their superb away win.
Leicester, who remain one point above the bottom three, face Newcastle United in a crucial relegation clash on Saturday. Chelsea took no risk with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — battling a minor hip problem — and replaced him with Petr Cech, while Oscar dropped to the bench after his nasty collision with Arsenal’s David Ospina on Sunday.
Leicester, who gave forward Jamie Vardy another pain-killing injection to allow him to play, made a bright start, pressing and harrying Chelsea, who rued Cesc Fabregas’ decision to square across the face of goal instead of shoot in the 17th minute.
The departures of King, on his 300th Leicester appearance, and Huth, robbed the home side of momentum, but, in a first half bereft of chances, they almost took the lead through an unlikely source, as Paul Konchesky’s near-post volley was superbly pushed onto the post by Cech.
Chelsea survived the ensuing goalmouth scramble, but they did not last until the break, as a fast counter in the third minute of stoppage time saw substitute Matty James play in Vardy down the left. Vardy got to the byline and cut-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta’s slip allowing Albrighton to steal in and, first time, fire into the bottom-left corner to delight the home crowd.
Chelsea came out firing after the break, though, and were quickly on level terms through Drogba, after a dink from Eden Hazard — the newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year — set Branislav Ivanovic free. And the defender stormed towards the byline before steering a pass to Drogba, who made no mistake from nine yards with a typically predatory finish.
The Ivorian spooned a great chance over less than two minutes later, while Fabregas should have done better when Willian’s cross from the right had Leicester scrambling, but the ex-Arsenal man saw the ball bounce off his knee and go wide.
The chances kept coming for Chelsea, as Drogba flashed an effort just wide from a difficult angle, while Willian curled over as the visitors pressed for a second goal.
And it came in the 79th minute as, after Gary Cahill’s header from Fabregas’ corner was saved by Kasper Schmeichel, Terry reacted quickest to flick in from close range.
Leicester were given no chance to mount a late rally, either, as Ramires rocketed a first-time effort into the top-left corner from just outside the penalty area four minutes later, sealing Chelsea’s terrific triumph.
