Leicester City's midfielder Riyad Mahrez (right) slips after taking his penalty, which hit his standing foot on the way to the goal, and was subsequently disallowed during the English Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in M
London: Manchester City benefited from two strokes of fortune as they beat Leicester City 2-1 in the Premier League yesterday to close in on a Champions League qualifying berth.
David Silva's opener was awarded despite an apparent offside against Raheem Sterling, while Riyad Mahrez had an equalising penalty disallowed after he slipped and struck the ball twice. City climbed above Liverpool to third place and moved six points clear of fifth-place Arsenal, who visit Stoke City. At the other end of the table, Swansea City took a big step towards safety by winning 2-0 at relegated Sunderland.
Guardiola's City took the lead in contentious circumstances in the 29th minute at the Etihad Stadium.
Sterling took a clear swipe at the ball as Silva's mishit shot from Leroy Sane's cut-back came past him, but despite Leicester protests, referee Robert Madley allowed the goal to stand.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later, Gabriel Jesus sending Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way from the penalty spot after Sane was scythed down by Yohan Benalouane. Leicester halved the deficit shortly before half-time when Shinji Okazaki hooked a stunning volley into the top-right corner from Marc Albrighton's cross.
Mahrez won a 77th-minute penalty after luring Gael Clichy into a clumsy foul, but despite him sending the ball past Willy Caballero, the eagle-eyed Madley ruled it out.
"To the letter of the law it's a double touch, but he could bring it back for an encroachment from Manchester City, so there's a bit of injustice," complained Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare.
