Musa scores first EPL goal, inspires Leicester to victory

Super Eagles Assistant Captain, Ahmed Musa, on Saturday opened his English Premier League goal account on Saturday as he inspired Leicester City to a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Musa was assisted by fellow new boy Islam Slimani, while last season’s top-scorer Jamie Vardy sat on the bench, resting following his Champions League exertions in midweek.

Although Slimani will be credited with an assist, this was very much a solo stunner from Musa, who scored 54 times in 168 games for former club CSKA Moscow.

The Nigerian winger has found it tough going since his club record £16.6 million move from CSKA Moscow in the summer.

And he looked as out-of-sorts as the rest of his Leicester City teammates for half an hour or so until he broke the stalemate three minutes from the break.

In at the start of the build-up coming in off the left wing, he was perfectly positioned to collect Islam Slimani’s jabbed pass on the edge of the area.

Glancing to his right, he looked certain to keep the move flowing by threading a pass out to the unmarked Ryad Mahrez but he suddenly spotted an opening in Crystal Palace’s backline and rifled a low shot beyond Steve Mandanda.

It was as unexpected as welcomed by a Foxes team that wasn’t looking half the force they were last season and at least spared them the ignominy of having fewer points after nine games than any other defending champions.

His superstrike was a savage setback for Palace who came within inches of taking the lead in the 12th minute.

Martin Kelly found Christian Benteke in the middle and the big-money striker twisted his neck and beat Kasper Schmeichel with a thumping header – but it bounced back off the bar.

And the big frontman went agonisingly close again in the second half as Palace were looking to edge back into the game, rising above his markers to power another header, cleared off the line by Danny Simpson.

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