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By Johnny Edward
Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored a consolatory goal for Leicester City in the 75th minute as they lost 3-1 away at Manchester City on Saturday. The simple finish ended his two months goals drought for the club.
The forward who came on for Jamie Vardy at half time has so far made 24 Premier League appearances this season.
Erling Haaland has scored a brace to equal another record as Manchester City increased the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Leicester.
The prolific Norwegian struck twice at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to draw level with the competition’s record of 32 goals for a 38-game season (47 from 40 appearances).
His double came after a superb early strike from John Stones and all but wrapped up a victory for City that cut the Gunners’ lead at the top to three points inside 25 minutes.
Seven years after winning the title, the Foxes remain in the bottom three with time running out.
Championship’s top scorer Chuba Akpom scored his 27th goal of the season for Middlesbrough who put on a five-star show as they hammered rivals Norwich 5-1 to move up to third in the Championship.
The win ended Boro’s three-game winless run to an end in emphatic fashion and also to solidify their top-six credentials with four games remaining in the regular season.
The Aston Villa loanee Aaron Ramsey got things going for Boro with an early opener before Hayden Hackney added a second. Cameron Archer scored a double late in the first half, either side of Josh Sargent hitting the net for the visitors. Akpom wrapped up the statement victory early in the second half. His strike also marked his eighth consecutive game at the Riverside with a goal.
In Italy,Victor Osimhen made a return to action for Napoli who dropped rare points in their quest for the Serie A title as Luciano Spalletti’s leaders were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Hellas Verona at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
With Spalletti managing his squad ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Milan, fit-again striker Osimhen began on the bench alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Saturday.
Napoli lacked inspiration in a low-key affair and went closest after the late introduction of their star duo, Osimhen rattling the crossbar with a terrific volley.
While Napoli’s first Scudetto since 1990 appears a formality with their lead at the summit standing at 14 points, Spalletti will demand far better with their European dreams on the line next time out.
Cyriel Dessers scored his ninth goal of the season for Cremonese who continued their dream of a great escape from the relegation zone after picking up all three points in a tight 1-0 win over Empoli.
Cremonese got off to a flying start at the Stadio Giovanni Zini, taking the lead after just four minutes when Dessers calmly chesting down a long ball from Leonardo Sernicola before poking it past the legs of Samuele Perisan who was in goal for Empoli. The game was his 28th of the season.
In Turkey, David Babajide took his tally to seven goals this season after he bagged a brace for Adana Dermispor in their 5-0 thumping of Kasimpasa. The Nigerian winger scored twice within three minutes.
He scored the opener in the 18th minute before adding his second three minutes later.