Extra special Fatawu sends Foxes through
A stunner by Abdul Fatawu in extra time put Leicester into the sixth round of the FA Cup — and dumped out Bournemouth. A game of few chances was decided by a fine moment of quality as the 2021 Cup winners knocked out their Premier League opponents.
Both teams made a significant amount of changes, with the Cherries making six from their defeat by Manchester City, while Champonship leaders Leicester made nine from the side that lost at elland road last Friday. the visitors made a quick start, and tested Bournemouth’s resolve after 90 seconds. A cross from the left by Callum Doyle went across the face of the home goal, and a clearance by defender Milos Kerkez was required. then Alex scott should have given the hosts the lead on 21 minutes. A powerful run into the area from Luis sinisterra was squared back to the unmarked midfielder, who connected first time from seven yards out. But he failed to keep his shot down and the ball went over the bar. Leicester were on the back foot for most of the half, but almost took the lead with two chances within seconds of each other. Captain Marc Albrighton saw his shot on 42 minutes ricochet off the post, and into the path of Wayna Marcal, who unleashed an excellent drive that goalkeeper Mark travers was equal to. Bournemouth almost took an advantage into half time that was foiled by the opposite keeper, when scott flicked on a corner only to see it turned away by Jakub stolarczyk. the deadlock was almost broken four minutes after the restart in strange circumstances. A seemingly tame delivery into the box from Marcos senesi curled onto the post and away to safety as defenders watched on. nerves were clearly starting to creep into the home crowd with the teams finely poised, although Leicester fans were in top voice. their cries may have been even louder had Yunus Akgun not managed to put the ball over the bar as he ran through after beating the offside trap with extra time looming. the extra half-hour period saw more sloppy play, perhaps down to fatigue and the slick surface. But there was nothing low quality about the strike that gave Leicester the lead right before the break. After picking up a layoff from Kelechi Iheanacho, Fatawu unleashed a stunning curler into the top corner from outside the area that travers could simply not reach. the urgency for Bournemouth became more apparent, and sub romain Faivre put just wide but Andoni Iraola’s side crashed out.
BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Travers 7; Smith 6, Zabaryni 7, Senesi 6 (Tavernier 73min, 6), Kerkez 7 (Faivre 105); Scott 6, Cook 6; Ouattara 6 (Christie 73, 6), Billing 6, Sinisterra 7 (Kluivert 90, 6); Unal 6 (Semenyo 46, 6).
Booked: Unal, Senesi, Scott.
Manager: Andoni Iraola 7.
LEICESTER (4-3-3): Stolarczyk 6; Choudhury 6, Vestergaard 7, Coady 6, Doyle 6 (Justin 78, 6); Praet 7 (Nelson 105), Raikhy 6, Akgun 5 (Pereira 46, 6); Albrighton 6 ( FATAWU 63, 8), Cannon 6 (Iheanacho 63, 7), Marcal 6.
Scorer: Fatawu 105.
Booked: Raikhy, Doyle, Fatawu, Pereira, Justin.
Manager: Enzo Maresca 7.
Referee: Paul Tierney 6.
Attendance: 10,872.