Leicester City 1-2 Middlesbrough: Finn Azaz and Sammy Silvera give Boro victory over Foxes
- Published
Finn Azaz's cool breakaway strike was his second in as many games
Runaway Championship leaders Leicester City saw their lead cut to nine points as Middlesbrough ended a four-game winless run with a stunning victory at the King Power Stadium.
Boro defended resolutely, surrendering possession and hitting the Foxes on the break to great effect as they took a 2-0 half-time lead through slick moves and tidy strikes from Finn Azaz and Sammy Silvera.
Leicester, who went close through Jannik Vestergaard and Patson Daka before falling behind, piled forward on the resumption.
And the introduction of Tom Canon at half-time, Kasey McAteer and former England striker Jamie Vardy with just under 30 minutes remaining, finally brought reward.
Having smashed a glorious chance over the bar, Vardy raced on to Canon's pass to blast in his 12th goal of the season.
But despite continuing to dominate, the Foxes could not break through for a second time as their four-game winning run come to an end with a shock first home defeat since November.
The loss gives in-form Leeds United - 2-0 victors over Plymouth Argyle - a huge boost ahead of the tantalising meeting of the league's top two on Friday evening.
For all their pressure, Leicester did not manage an attempt on target until the evergreen Vardy's typically cool finish with five minutes remaining.
But a noisy home crowd, confident of watching a fifth consecutive win and a 14th victory from 17 home fixtures this season, seemed to have little to be concerned about as the Foxes matched that belief with a familiar, dominant start.
Vestergaard headed a decent chance into the side netting at the back post from a corner, Daka was also off target with a good headed opportunity, while winger Abdul Fatawu had a goal-bound attempt well blocked by Matt Clarke.
But Boro's breakaway plans and cautious tactics paid off with their first attempt on goal on 24 minutes, Lewis O'Brien racing through and squaring the ball to Azaz to calmly find the top corner for his second goal in six games following the attacking midfielder's move from Aston Villa.
A second Boro goal from two efforts on target arrived just before the break as the visitors made the most of some sloppy passing to break at pace. Riley McGree was the provider, teeing up Silvera to blast in his second goal in three games.
Michael Carrick's Boro side remained dangerous on the counter-attack but Leicester regrouped after the break, and posed an increasing threat.
Daka went close for a second time and, after Vardy's uncharacteristic miss, Vestergaard also shot wastefully over from close range.
Vardy finally got the Leicester radar working to bring late hope when his low shot found he bottom corner, but Boro survived the five remaining minutes - plus four minutes of injury time - to secure a league double over their hosts, who scored with their only two efforts on target.
Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester:
"It's a shame. We created many, many chances but in the end we dropped points. We finished 0-2 in the first half but we didn't deserve that. After the first goal we lost some balance.
"We controlled the game quite well and when they sat back, we needed more quality and to be more accurate with the last pass in attack.
"It is one of those days. We missed chances and didn't hit the target from six yards. The important thing is to be in the game until the end.
"It is frustrating but you cannot win every game."
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"So much has gone has against us and things keep getting a little bit more challenging. But the bigger the challenge, the bigger the sense of achievement and I thought the boys were incredible.
"Tactically we were good, the spirit was good. We were focused. We knew we would get chances to score and with the chances we had we were clinical and we could have had one or two more.
"Up until the last 10 minutes we defended magnificently and didn't give them too much, but it got a little bit stretched and chaotic as you would expect.
"I cannot be more proud. Credit to the boys. It shows what we are capable of doing, but consistency is key."