Canaries must be brave in order to pile more misery on Chelsea: Farke
LEICESTER became the first team in English football to score a goal via a VAR decision as they overcame Fleetwood 2-0 in their FA Cup replay.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored in each half but it was his strike 13 minutes from time that required the intervention of the video assistant referee.
Referee Jonathan Moss asked to check if the striker was offside before finishing off Riyah Mehrez’s lovely reverse pass.
Replays showed Iheanacho was onside when the ball was played and the goal stood to see Leicester progress to a fourthround tie away at Peterborough.
The Foxes made eight changwas es to the side that started the goalless Premier League draw at Chelsea on Saturday, although Mahrez was retained by manager Claude Puel.
As expected, Leicester dominated possession but their passing often lacked the tempo to trouble a well-organised Fleetwood.
It took until the midway point of the first half for a shot on target but it came from the League One team.
Eldin Jakupovic smothered a tame effort from Conor McAleny, who then brought a fine save from the Leicester goalkeeper with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
Mahrez clipped the outside of a post with a free-kick but it Fleetwood who were looking the most likely to score and Jakupovic was worked again after 37 minutes, getting fingertips on the ball to help a Kyle Dempsey shot over the crossbar.
It was a surprise when Leicester went ahead two minutes before half-time and the goal came from nothing.
Christian Fuchs knocked a long pass down the line and the ball broke to Islam Slimani who played in Iheanacho.
A lovely first touch enabled him to run through one-on-one with Chris Neal and he coolly slid his finish beneath the advancing goalkeeper.
It was not only Leicester’s first shot on target of the evening, but their first of the entire tie including the goalless draw at Highbury 10 days ago.
Slimani might have extended the lead at the start of the second half but he snatched at his chance and put the ball wide.
Iheanacho twice had the ball in the net during the second half.
His first effort was rightly ruled out but on the second occasion after 77 minutes, after the flag again went up but Moss consulted with the video assistant referee, it was 2-0 to Leicester. DANIEL Farke says Norwich will have something “special” planned for their FA Cup thirdround replay at Chelsea.
The Canaries head to Stamford Bridge tonight on the back of holding the Premier League champions to a goalless draw at Carrow Road.
Farke’s men followed that up with a battling 1-0 win at Championship promotion hopefuls Bristol City.
The German manager believes Norwich will have a free shot at pulling off a shock result.
“I’m hoping for another brilliant performance against one of the giants and we’ll have a special plan” Farke said.
“Hopefully with a really good performance and, if Chelsea aren’t at their very best, then we’ll have a chance.
“It will be important to keep as much possession as possible, as we don’t want to be running after the ball for 90 minutes — so we have to be brave in our possession and our pressing.”
Chelsea are without a win in the last four matches.
Farke, though, accepts Norwich cannot afford to underestimate the challenge ahead.
“They haven’t scored for three games so they will be wanting to show they can score, especially in a home match,” he added.