Jamie Vardy has been on quite the wait for a Premier League home goal with Leicester.
His opening strike at King Power Stadium marked his 199th goal in a Leicester shirt, steering Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s side toward their first victory since January. Meanwhile, Jordan Awe needs just one more point to avoid repeating the 11-match winless streak of the 2007-2008 Derby, as Southampton found themselves trailing the Foxes just before halftime.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis had a decent opportunity to put Southampton ahead early, but his effort from Mateus Fernandez’s corner was easily saved by Leicester’s goalkeeper, Jakub Stralsic.
But, of course, it was Leicester who finally found the back of the net for the first time in the league since Bobby de Cordoba Reid’s equalizer back in December 2024. In the 16th minute, Luke Thomas set up Bilal El Hannas, who managed to score with a low ball.
A peculiar moment followed when referee David Webb inadvertently took a hit to the head from Awe and had to receive treatment. Unfortunately for Webb, he couldn’t continue, so the fourth official, Sam Barott, stepped in for the remainder of the match.
After a 12-minute delay, Leicester gained momentum again, doubling their lead just before halftime when Ayei unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box after a free kick rebounded off the wall. The energetic El Cannaz nearly added a third for the hosts just before the break, but his cross sailed over the bar.
Southampton’s performance showed signs of improvement after the break, especially when Scholachuk managed to stop Paul Onuatchu’s header from Kamaldeen Slemana’s cross.
It was a brief surge from the visitors, yet Leicester quickly stretched their lead further when Wilfred Ndidi’s shot from an El Cannaus corner took a decisive deflection. Vardy came close to hitting that 200-goal milestone when his free kick was saved by Southampton’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.
El Cannas missed a chance to play for Vardy as he ventured into Southampton’s half with just seven minutes remaining, allowing the hosts to clinch a rare victory.
