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Gabriel Jesus comes off bench to net winner as Man City edge past Leicester despite Aguero penalty miss

REUTERS
REUTERS

Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to strike home a late winner as Manchester City beat Leicester 1-0 in a tight encounter at the King Power Stadium.

City coach Pep Guardiola made three changes from the side that beat West Ham on Wednesday, handing a start to former Leicester man Riyad Mahrez.

But it was the Premier League's top scorer Jamie Vardy who almost opened the scoring, striking against the woodwork in the eighth minute to hand a warning to the champions.

Ilkay Gundogan then spurned a great chance to put City ahead after some fine work from Mahrez and Sergio Aguero.

Leicester felt they should have had a penalty when Kevin De Bruyne appeared to handle in the box from James Maddison's free-kick.

Ederson was twice forced into action to deny Maddison and then clattered Kelechi Iheanacho after a 50-50 aerial ball, with the Nigerian subtituted at the break.

It was just as close after the interval with De Bruyne going close.

On the hour mark, City got their chance to go ahead when Dennis Praet handled Gundogan's shot, with VAR telling referee Paul Tierney to point to the spot.

Aguero stepped up, powerful his effort down the middle, only for Schmeichel to save brilliantly with his legs, before the striker had a chance a minute after.

When the Argentinian was substituted, on came Jesus and the striker made an immediate impact when Mahrez raced through and sent in the 23-year-old, who finished calmly past Schmeichel to hand City all three points to make it two wins in four days.

Leicester XI: Ederson: Walker, Laporte, Fernandinho (C), Mendy; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Aguero, Mahrez.

Subs: Bravo, Stones, Jesus, Silva, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden

Man City XI: Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs, Chilwell; Praet, Tielemans, Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Justin, Morgan, James, Albrighton, Pérez, Barnes.