Leicester City Lift Premier League Trophy At Home
So it finally happened. The moment every football fan in the world was waiting for. Leicester City lifted the Premier League trophy at home last night, BBC Sport reports. The mood in the King Power stadium was a combination of emotional and ecstatic. The trophy-handing ceremony followed an impressive 3-1 win for the Foxes against Everton. And Jamie Vardy, the man who scored a premier league record of 11 consecutive goals and a total of 24 league goals for Leicester this season, scored twice. Andy King scored another for the Foxes. And Kevin Mirallas scored a consolation goal for the Toffees.
What an incredible moment! #lcfc#havingapartyhttps://t.co/WpG48tKXdJ
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 7, 2016
With 30,000 supporters inside the stadium for the clash against Everton and thousands more outside the stadium, it was a party at Leicester City last night. The atmosphere was unbelievable with hundreds of fans having dyed their hair blue, and even more had on T-shirts with the word “Champions” written on them. Fans who couldn’t get their hands on tickets were holding cardboard signs begging for spare tickets. But those who did, for the most part, it seemed were just waiting for the 90 minutes against Everton to end quickly. And when it finally did, Foxes fans witnessed their team lift the Premier League trophy, the most outstanding feat for the club with a 132-year history.
According to Sky Sports, the Spurs’ draw against Chelsea last weekend was enough to ensure the trophy for the Foxes. However, it was only today, in their final home game of the season, that they were scheduled to receive the trophy. The game against Everton would have no impact on Leicester’s claim to the title, but that did not stop the new champions from slaying the struggling Everton. Their 3-1 victory over the Toffees was the kind of game spirit that brought them the title to begin with.
The Everton players gave the champions a guard of honor as the home side made their way into the pitch from the tunnels, as is the tradition in the Premier League. The party mood continued as Jamie Vardy, who was back from suspension, opened the score for Leicester in just five minutes of the game. Andy King doubled the Foxes’ lead before half-time.
Everton dominated possession but could not capitalize on it. Leicester added another goal to their score in the 65th minute of the game, with Foxes’ top scorer Vardy scoring a direct goal from a spot kick he had won after being fouled by Matthew Pennington. Vardy had a chance to hit his first hat trick of the season after a Darron Gibson foul on Wes Morgan had won Leicester a Penalty, but Vardy skied his shot. The visitors did get a consolation goal through Kevin Mirallas. But it was too little too late to make any difference, and ultimately it wouldn’t spoil Leicester’s party. The fans were heard singing all along waiting for the game to end.
Then came the moment every Fox fan and, in all fairness, every football fan around the world had been waiting for: the trophy handing ceremony. After each player received the champion’s medal, Captain Wes Morgan and Manager Claudio Ranieri jointly lifted the Premier League trophy to a defining cheer from their fans.
The party spirit continued for a long time. Manager Ranieri, for instance, was soaked in champagne by Leicester City full-back Christian Fuchs while he was being interviewed after the trophy presentation ceremony. Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester City vice-chairman and son of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, plans to take the team on a postseason trip to Thailand.
[Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images]
