Iheanacho’s level best gives Leicester big lift
FOXES HIT BACK AFTER GUILBERT STUNS HOSTS
SUPER-SUB Kelechi Iheanacho rode to Leicester’s rescue with a crucial Carabao Cup goal.
The £25million former Manchester City striker dug Brendan Rodgers’ men out of a hole as they looked destined to go to Villa Park a goal down for the semi-final second leg.
Villa put up a great display, given there was no shortage of people thinking they might take a beating.
Frederic Guilbert looked as if he might clinch victory with his first-half goal.
But Iheanacho had other ideas and, just five minutes after coming off the bench in the 69th minute, he took the wind right out ofVilla’s sails.
It was his sixth goal in eight outings this season and he will not hit one any sweeter.
Iheanacho pounced on a brilliant defence-splitting pass from Jamie Vardy and thumped a stinger into the roof of the net from 12 yards out. Leicester went into the game as favourites courtesy of a remarkable season which sees them sitting second in the table.
Villa’s first campaign back in the big time has them in a scrap to maintain their Premier League status.
Foxes fans baited the travelling supporters with chants of, ‘We’re all going on a European tour’.
They were swiftly reminded not to get too carried away as the Villa throng hit back with ‘Champions of Europe – you’ll never sing that!’ With both sides playing three at the back, it was an understandably cagey start.
Leicester gradually started to make inroads and carved out a handful of opportunities midway through the first half.
Ayoze Perez flashed a drive inches wide and Jonny Evans just cleared the woodwork with a header following a free-kick.
Then, it was dangerman Vardy’s turn to try and break the deadlock.
He homed in on goal before failing to hit the net, but a couple of minutes later it was only a superb block from Orjan Nyland that stopped him. It was a shock when Villa took the lead in the 28th minute with their first attempt on goal. Anwar El Ghazi found space down the left and swept a dangerous cross towards the far post where Guilbert steamed in to meet it.
The French wing-back is not known for his scoring prowess but he got the connection required to rock Leicester on their heels.
And they almost received another jolt just before half-time when Ezri Konsa’s header thumped the bar. Leicester were getting frustrated, with Villa superbly marshalled at the back by England centre-half Tyrone Mings.
But boss Rodgers, above, threw on Iheanacho in a bid to haul his side back into the contest and the striker had the final say.