Burnley's Czech striker Matej Vydra (2R) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during. AFP
Burnley's Czech striker Matej Vydra (2R) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during. AFP
Burnley's Czech striker Matej Vydra (2R) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during. AFP
Burnley's Czech striker Matej Vydra (2R) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during. AFP

Depleted Leicester held to draw at Burnley


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Third-placed Leicester City were held to a 1-1 Premier League draw at lowly Burnley on Wednesday after their Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho cancelled out Matej Vydra's opener.

The result left Leicester in third place, level on 50 points with Manchester United, who were facing Crystal Palace later on Wednesday.

Both teams are 15 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Burnley grabbed a fourth-minute lead when Hamza Choudhury's poor pass back to Wilfred Ndidi was intercepted on the edge of the box by Vydra.

The Czech striker blasted past Kasper Schmeichel for his first league goal of the season.

Choudhury could have made quick amends when Timothy Castagne found him unmarked in the box but he struck the ball into the ground and Nick Pope was able to tip over.

Despite the absence of key creative players James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, Leicester were a threat going forward and were rewarded for their endeavours with an impressive equaliser in the 34th minute.

Ndidi floated a beautifully weighted ball towards Iheanacho in the area and the Nigerian's timing and technique was perfect as he volleyed past Pope.

Burnley, 15th in the table, had been poor in their 4-0 loss at Tottenham on Sunday but had much more verve about them, boosted by the return of Chris Wood to their attack.

The New Zealander, who had scored in his last three games against Leicester, his former club, forced Schmeichel into a superb diving save at the foot of the post with an angled header from a fine Matt Lowton cross.

Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood struck the post with a drive from outside the box as Sean Dyche's side, still with a nervous eye on the relegation zone, searched for the full points.

Leicester also hit the woodwork with a Youri Tielemans shot, slightly deflected off Jack Cork, but Brendan Rodgers's side had to settle for the point.

"We didn't make a good start but showed the mentality of the players to come back into the game," the Leicester manager said.

"We didn't start the second half well but then I felt as the second half wore on we could go on and win the game and we nearly did."

Dyche was happy his team had shown the energy and defensive discipline for which they are known.

"It is pleasing in the sense of coming off a very tough game against Tottenham," he said.

"Their keeper was arguably man of the match. I was really pleased with our approach play, it was much, much better.

"Leicester are a good outfit despite having a number of injuries like ourselves.

"You can't be too greedy and the performance was important, getting back to what we are about."

Burnley are six points above 18th-placed Fulham, the highest placed side in the relegation zone, with 11 games left to play, although Fulham have a match in hand.

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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.