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Vardy makes it winning coronation for Leicester

Vardy makes it winning coronation for Leicester

By REUTERS

Britain Soccer Football - Leicester City v Everton - Barclays Premier League - King Power Stadium - 7/5/16nJamie Vardy gestures towards Everton's Joel Robles after scoring the third goal for Leicester from the penalty spotnAction Images via Reuters / John CliftonnLivepic

Leicester City 3 Everton 1 Premier League champions Leicester City beat Everton 3-1 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday as a Jamie Vardy double completed a perfect coronation for Claudio Ranieri's miracle men. The 5,000-1 pre-season outsiders were given a guard of honour by Everton and serenaded by opera singer Andrea Bocelli during emotional pre-match celebrations, having clinched the title for the first time in their 132-year history on Monday when closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur were held 2-2 by Chelsea. Vardy converted Andy King's cross in the fifth minute before King added a second in the 33rd. England striker Vardy then bagged a 65th-minute penalty after being brought down by James Pennington before firing another spot-kick wildly over the bar. Kevin Mirallas pulled a late goal back for the visitors. 'I always knew I would win a title,' manager Ranieri told Sky Sports television after capturing his first major league crown in a 30-year career that has embraced 16 jobs. 'I just never thought it would be here.' Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said: 'This is what dreams are made of. It's what you dreamed of as a kid'. Vardy, the second highest scorer in the Premier League this season with 24 goals, was overjoyed. 'I don't think I can put it into words,' he said. 'It's been a long and hard process to get here today. 'Nothing could spoil this celebration,' added Vardy, reflecting on his penalty miss, 'although I think my ball's ended up in someone's garden.'