KELE VISION HISTORY
Iheanacho nets first ‘video goal’ in Foxes victory
Iheanacho 43, 77 KELECHI IHEANACHO wrote his name into English football folklore last night.
Iheanacho became the first player to score a goal after a decision was overruled by VAR technology on a historic night at the King Power Stadium.
The Leicester striker saw his second goal ruled out after linesman Lee Betts put up his flag only for referee Jon Moss to consult the video assistant referee, who gave the goal.
The whole of the stadium had been on tenterhooks and it was strange for them to be made to wait to celebrate, but the TV replays clearly showed that Iheanacho was onside.
It was a memorable moment for 21-year-old Iheanacho – and not just because of VAR technology. The powerful Nigeria international has struggled for form and goals at Leicester since his £25million summer move from Manchester City.
But he was the two-goal hero on a night which was supposed to be about another Leicester forward.
Jamie Vardy was desperate to face his former club but only got a cameo role as a late substitute having already missed the first game at Fleetwood through injury.
They were even selling Vardy “half and half ” scarves outside the ground – but Foxes boss Claude Puel was clearly not in the mood for any FA Cup romance.
In fact, the only automatic starter Puel named in his starting line-up was Riyad Mahrez, who was handed the captain’s armband.
Puel is clearly desperate to keep Mahrez after valuing him at £100m to ward off potential suitors in this transfer window.
But it is hard to know whether Mahrez would really have enjoyed playing on a freezing cold night in front of a half-empty stadium.
Fleetwood came within a whisker of winning the first game and did themselves proud in the replay as former Everton trainee Conor Mcaleny twice had good shots saved by Leicester’s No.2 keeper Eldin Jakupovic. It took the Foxes 33 minutes to conjure up a decent effort themselves as Mahrez grazed the post with a 20-yard freekick, but Jakupovic then produced a terrific tip-over from Kyle Dempsey’s dipping shot.
You were beginning to think it was heading for another stalemate when the breakthrough came two minutes before half-time.
Fleetwood defender Cian Bolger made a mess of a header, Islam Slimani then threaded a brilliant through ball and Iheanacho glided away before calmly slotting a low shot past visiting keeper Chris Neal.
Then the big moment came in the 77th minute when Mahrez’s through ball found Iheanacho.
He raced through to score but was flagged offside – only for the VAR to show that Fleetwood captain Nathan Pond was level and played him onside.
The Foxes now face a trip to Peterborough.