HERO WARD ENOCK-OUT FOR FOXES

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Leicester Brighton Leicester win 4-2 on pens

BY DAVE ARMITAGE ENOCK MWEPU and Neal Maupay fluffed their lines in the shootout as Leicester edged into the quarter-finals.

Sub Maupay smashed his effort against the bar then Foxes’ back-up keeper Danny Ward stepped out of the shadows of Kasper Schmeichel to become the home hero when he saved Brighton’s fourth spotkick from another sub, Mwepu.

It was a poignant night for Leicester as they paid tribute to former chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on the third anniversary of the helicopter tragedy at the ground which saw five lives lost.

Leicester had looked like honouring his legacy early on until they were pegged back by the visitors.

The Seagulls managed to recover from the early setback of Harvey Barnes’ sixth-minute opener – but they then blew all their hard work within 60 seconds.

Barnes blasted the home side in front from 18 yards, nipping the ball off Adam Webster’s toes as he dallied on keeper Jason Steele’s dreadful pass.

Leicester were good value for their lead, but the Seagulls got themselves back in it in a madcap spell of first-half stoppage time. Ward made a magnificent flying save to push an Alexis Mac Allister shot over the top.

But it was redemption time for defender Webster from the corner when he pounced on Shane Duffy’s scuffed header and rolled the ball in from a few yards out.

But Graham Potter’s men hardly had any time to enjoy it when they threw another gift Leicester’s way and it was gratefully received.

Quite what Jeremy Sarmiento was thinking, no one knows but he turned awkwardly towards goal and underhit a pass back towards his keeper.

Ademola Lookman was straight on it and poked the ball past the advancing Steele as he tried to get in a block.

That looked like it might be enough until Mwepu scored a 71st-minute equaliser with a looping header from a Marc Cucurella cross.