Watford Triumphs Over Leicester City, Closing in on Championship Play-offs
Othmane Maamma's stunning strike ignited a spirited comeback as Watford edged closer to the Championship play-off spots with a victory over struggling Leicester City.
The inconsistent Foxes, now on a two-game losing streak, opened the scoring in a frantic Boxing Day match within the first 10 minutes, courtesy of a precise strike from Jordan James.
However, Maamma's exquisite finish with the outside of his right boot brought the Hornets level just before halftime.
The second half continued with both teams creating and squandering excellent chances, but it was Watford that secured the win through a courageous header from defender Mattie Pollock.
Both of Watford's goals stemmed from clever play and precise delivery by the impressive Imran Louza, leaving his side just one point and two places shy of the play-off positions, following their third win in an unbeaten five-match run.
The prospect of an away victory seemed unlikely when James set the tone for an exhilarating afternoon with a smart finish, shifting the ball to his right foot and placing a low shot into the far corner after some slick team interplay near the box.
Both teams missed key opportunities before the visitors equalized just before the break, with Maamma delivering a delightful first-time finish from Louza's assist.
The equalizer was well-deserved, as Watford had already come close with attempts from Luca Kjerrumgaard and a Pollock header that was ruled offside from a corner.
Meanwhile, Leicester, who have now garnered only 14 points from their last 13 matches and faced boos from their supporters at the final whistle, will lament a missed opportunity to extend their lead to 2-0 when Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik redeemed himself by saving Stephy Mavididi's low shot after a poor clearance.