History made as video ref gives Leicester goal
Two goals and video ref history for Kelechi
THIS is the moment Kelechi Iheanacho (top left) became the first player awarded a goal by a video referee in England, as the offside flag was overruled in Leicester’s 2-0 FA Cup win against Fleetwood. Video ref Mike Jones could see this yellow line — showing Iheanacho to be clearly onside — and relayed the correct decision to referee Jon Moss.
Leicester claimed victory in this FA cup third- round replay but the video assistant referee was the night’s big winner.
For the first time in english football history technology was used to overturn a decision, with Kelechi iheanacho’s goal allowed to stand after originally being ruled out for offside.
there were 13 minutes left when iheanacho collected a pass from riyad Mahrez and chipped a delightful finish past Fleetwood goalkeeper chris Neal.
However, Lee Betts had raised his flag on the touchline and referee Jon Moss gave a Fleetwood ood free-kick. But then en the voice in his s earpiece of video referee Mike Jones, watching a television screen in London, cautioned for closer inspection.
As Moss listened, d, the crowd worked ed out what was happening pened and clamoured for an overrule. Joness presumably presum told his colleague it was close, but Nathan Pond’s back leg had played iheanacho onside.
Without too much delay Moss gave the signal and jogged back to the centre circle with the ball. iheanacho sunk to his knees in celebration of his second goal and Leicester knew victory, and a trip to Peterborough in the fourth round, was theirs. iheanacho will be happy his Leicester career finally has a sense of momentum. the young striker had only scored once previously for the club since his £25million move from Manchester city, but stories can turn in unlikely circumstances and both he and claude Puel will hope that is the case here. ‘i didn’t know if i’m onside or offside but i think riyad told me that i was onside, so i was concentrating on the goal,’ said iheanacho. ‘if there is a review, we just wait to see what the referee’s decision is. the communication with the players is good enough.’
Fleetwood manager Uwe rosler had a different view. ‘i followed it in Germany and over there is not a lot of positivity about it,’ he said. ‘even sometimes VAR is not 100 per cent clear. And it interrupts the game. We will see how it goes in the future. in general it doesn’t complicate football too much. the game is beautiful, let it be pure, and also made by human errors for the referee.’
rosler said his team were the better side for three- quarters of the two games and his judgment was sound. Having been superior at Highbury stadium, Fleetwood created the better chances in the first period here.
eldin Jakupovic saved well from conor McAleny and Kyle Dempsey as the League One team bridged the gulf in class impressively.
Leicester’s chances were minimal but effective. Mahrez, surprise captain for the night, won and took a free-kick that looked in all the way until it clipped the post with Neal stranded.
then the Premier League side took the lead three minutes before the interval. cian Bolger fluffed his headed clearance to a high ball and Leicester took full advantage.
islam slimani played a sharp pass to iheanacho, allowing the Nigeria striker to take the ball in his stride, continue into the area, and slip a shot between Neal’s legs. it was a well-executed finish and gives reason for Leicester to persevere with the 21-year-old.
there was more evidence four minutes after the break when iheanacho delivered a dinked cross that found slimani by the penalty spot. But Leicester’s £28m record signing sent his volley badly off target.
iheanacho had the net rippling again on the hour when converting Demarai Gray’s cutback, but Betts raised his flag for the ball being out. Moss sought the advice of the video referee and was told the call was correct.
Not long after, technology made a more telling, historic intervention.