A NACHO Reject Kelechi returns
IT WAS ironic that a goal from Manchester City reject Kelechi Iheanacho left Jack Grealish waiting for his first trophy.
The Leicester striker finally found a way past the champions’ outstanding keeper, Zack Steffen, from the penalty spot two minutes from time, after forcing Nathan Ake into the mistake that led to the spot-kick.
It was enough to give Brendan Rodgers’ FA Cup holders the season’s first piece of silverware.
It is only the second time the Foxes have lifted the Community Shield. This triumph came 50 years to the day since they beat Liverpool after Arsenal had opted to go on tour instead of playing in the traditional curtain-raiser.
Steffen, a United States international, had produced some outstanding saves to keep Pep Guardiola’s side in the contest. And when the City boss sent Grealish into the fray for the last 24 minutes – just 48 hours after the midfielder had sealed his £100million move to The Etihad – it illustrated how much the Catalan wanted the Shield.
But Iheanacho settled the contest after coming on as an 89th-minute substitute – just as it seemed to be heading for a shootout.
Great things were expected of the Nigerian striker when he came storming through the ranks on the blue side of Manchester.
But Guardiola didn’t think he was good enough – and sold him to Leicester for £25m. He was outstanding in the Foxes’ march to
Wembley last season – and how he enjoyed his moment against his former club.
Guardiola had nine of his title-winning stars missing – with Grealish on the bench.
There was still plenty of quality in his side, although there was also an opportunity for teenage forwards Sam Edozie and Cole Palmer to impress.
It was the champions who carried the early threat. Ilkay Gundogan’s 30-yard free-kick was kept out only by Kasper Schmeichel’s flying save.
And Caglar Soyuncu was fortunate when his attempt to volley clear Benjamin Mendy’s cross saw him narrowly slice the ball over his own crossbar.
Jamie Vardy has home and away hat-tricks against Guardiola.
He might have had another match-ball to take home from Wembley.
The veteran’s first effort on target was a snap-shot that was turned around the post by Sky Blues’ keeper Steffen.
Grealish showcased some of his skills from his position wide on the left. Yet Steffen had to excel again, racing from his goal to snatch the ball off the toes of Leicester new-boy Patson Daka. Then, in the 85th minute, Ake’s tentative first touch allowed Iheanacho to take the ball away from him.
The defender’s attempt to recover possession was clumsy and although Steffen saved superbly again from Daka, referee Paul Tierney punished the earlier foul.
Iheanacho kept his cool to win it.
LEICESTER: Schmeichel 7; Pereira 7, Amartey 7, Soyuncu 7, Bertrand 7 (Thomas 79th); Tielemans 6 (Soumare (72nd) 6); Ndidi
6; Perez 7 (Albrighton (71st) 6), Maddison 7 (Dewsbury-Hall (71st)
6), Barnes 8 (Iheanacho 79th); Vardy 6 (Daka 71st) 6
MAN CITY: Steffen 8; Cancelo 6, Dias 8, Ake 5, Mendy 6; Palmer
6 (Silva (75th) 6), Fernandinho 7, Gundogan 6 (Rodri (65th) 6); Mahrez 6, Torres 6 (Knight (75th) 6), Edozie 6 (Grealish (65th) 6)
STAR MAN: Harvey Barnes
REF: Paul Tierney