Mourinho up to old tricks as Foxes held

FOR so long, this was a game right out of the Jose Mourinho playbook. Parked buses and dirty tricks. An early goal and endless frustration.

But there’s a saying in these parts: ‘Foxes Never Quit’. And in their first-ever European semi-final, Leicester refused to do so.

Gianluca Mancini’s own goal cancelled out Lorenzo Pellegrini’s opener. It may not have given Brendan Rodgers’ side an advantage but they go into their Europa Conference League second leg in Rome on a level footing.

And how much they will need it. More than 70,000 await them in the Stadio Olimpico next week. Leicester want more of these nights. This is only their 39th European game in their history. And winning this competition is likely to be their only chance of more next term.

This was, on both sides, a game of returns. For Mourinho, his first contest as a manager in England since his departure from Tottenham a year ago.

The visitors took the lead when Nicola Zalewski burst forward down the left, split Leicester’s defence with a pass to Pellegrini and the Roma captain put it through Kasper Schmeichel’s legs and into the corner on 15 minutes.

Leicester levelled after 67 minutes when Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho exchanged passes before Barnes squared to Mancini to turn it in.

All eyes on Rome. LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel 7; Pereira 6, Fofana 7, Evans 7, Castagne 5 (Justin 21min, 6); Maddison 7, Tielemans 6.5, Dewsbury-Hall 6; Albrighton 6 (Barnes 62, 7.5), Vardy 6 (Iheanacho 62, 7), Lookman 7.5 (Perez 83). Scorer: Mancini 67 (og). ROMA: Patricio 6.5; Mancini 7, Smalling 7, Ibanez 7; Karsdorp 6.5, Mkhitaryan 7 (Veretout 57, 6.5), Cristante 8, Pellegrini 8 (Afena-Gyan 85), Zalewski 7 (Vina 85); Zaniolo 6.5 (Oliveira 69, 6), Abraham 5. Scorer: Pellegrini 15. Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain) 6.