MENDY HITS RIGHT SPOT FOR FOXES
NAMPALYS MENDY fired Leicester’s penalty shoot-out winner to set up a quarter-final tie with holders Manchester City.
It piles on the pressure and misery on Saints boss Mark Hughes whose side fell into the Premier League relegation zone last weekend.
Defeat at Fulham means Hughes is on the brink after winning only three of his 21 top-flight games in charge.
And he had no luck here as his side hit the bar twice from Nathan Redmond and Manolo Gabbiadini.
Sitter
Youngster Michael Obafemi also missed a sitter from the rebound from Redmond’s shot.
Southampton also had a ‘goal’ controversially ruled out by VAR after Redmond was adjudged to have handled before Steven Davis struck.
In the shoot-out Davis netted first for Saints before Christian Fuchs, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Redmond, Caglar Soyuncu, Jannick Vestergaard, Demarai Gray, Cedric and Jamie Vardy all scored.
In sudden death Gabbiadini was the first to miss as Danny Ward saved leaving sub Mendy to send the home fans home happy.
It finally settled the tie which was due to be played last month but was postponed after the death of Foxes chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash outside the ground. Following the tragedy, Leicester’s stars have targeted silverware in their late chairman’s honour.
Vardy returned up front as skipper in one of nine changes for the hosts.
In a tight, forgettable first half, Southampton had the best initial chances as Obafemi and Redmond dragged shots wide.
Leicester improved in the second as Fuchs flashed a dangerous cross in.
But Southampton should have taken the lead in the 63rd minute as Redmond crashed a left-foot shot against the bar and Obafemi volleyed the follow up wide.
Leicester had a string of efforts as Fousseni Diabate, substitute Shinji Okazaki and Gray had shots wide from distance.
But they got a major break when VAR ruled Redmond had handled before sub Davis fired in.
Saints thought they had scored in the 82nd minute but it was later dramatically ruled out.
VAR also helped referee Roger East decline Leicester a penalty when Jonny Evans went down under Hojbjerg’s challenge.
There was more drama to come in stoppage time when Ward tipped a free-kick from sub Gabbiadini on to the woodwork.