Iheanacho’s double sinks Manchester United and puts Leicester in last four
The run had to end at some point but, when it did for Manchester United, it did so in comprehensive fashion. They had not tasted defeat on their domestic travels for 14 months – a sequence of 29 matches – yet they were second best in all departments here to see another avenue to silverware closed off.
In simple terms, Leicester seemed to want it more. Brendan Rodgers’s team pressed high, they snapped into challenges and refused to allow United to establish any rhythm. But once they had possession, they were slick and incisive. There were times when United gasped for breath.
Leicester had the star turn in the two-goal striker Kelechi Iheanacho, although to single him out would be unfair. There were heroes in blue all over the pitch, taking in at the back and pretty much everybody in midfield, where the groundwork for the victory was laid. Youri Tielemans crowned a driving performance with the low shot for 2-1. Wilfred Ndidi was a dominant presence in front of the back three.
It is remarkable to think that Rodgers was without a clutch of key players through injury, chiefly James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes. Leicester brought the tempo, they brought the conviction and they will fancy their chances in the semi-final against Southampton. It is their first appearance in the last four since 1982 and their last one in the final was in 1969. They have never won the competition. Rodgers had talked beforehand about being three wins from history. It feels an awful lot closer now.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt the spotlight fall on his selection, having started Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and the fit-again Edinson Cavani on the bench; Marcus Rashford was missing through injury. He introduced all four in the 63rd minute and United immediately looked better. The difference between the regulars and most of the reserves continues to look pronounced. But any hope of a comeback was extinguished when McTominay missed his clearing header from a Marc Albrighton free-kick and Iheanacho converted at the far post.
“We couldn’t find our normal spark, our brightness and energy,” Solskjaer said, with a nod towards the impact of last Thursday’s Europa League last-16 win at Milan; that competition is now United’s last hope of a trophy. “Maybe the accumulation of games caught up with us.”
Revenge had been in the air for Leicester, given their defeat here on the final day of last season to United – it cost them a Champions League place and propelled United into the competition – and they bristled with aggression, winning the ball high up from the early exchanges. United never looked comfortable in the face of the press.
The breakthrough goal had been advertised with Fred being robbed twice in dangerous areas inside the first 20 minutes only for a Dean Henderson save and Harry Maguire’s block to thwart Jamie Vardy. Fred did not take heed. He was played into a degree of trouble by Maguire but it was an aberration that followed, his attempted backpass to Henderson finding only Iheanacho. He took a touch around the goalkeeper and tapped home.
Leicester’s control of the first half was almost total which made it so
annoying for them that they entered the interval at 1-1. United scored from their only forward thrust and it featured a nice moment for Donny van de Beek, whose dummy from Paul Pogba’s low cutback threw the Leicester defence and allowed Mason Greenwood to score with a low drive. Otherwise, it was another frustrating day for Van de Beek, although he was not the only United player to disappoint.
The markers of Leicester’s confidence were numerous from Iheanacho’s link-up work to one first halfturn from Caglar Soyuncu that saw him wrongfoot Pogba and cruise away. Iheanacho was kept out by a stretching Aaron Wan-Bissaka tackle while Ayoze Pérez whipped a shot just wide on 44 minutes.
Leicester continued to push after half-time and Tielemans’ goal exemplified many of the differences between the teams. He worked the ball around Nemanja Matic via a slick one-two with Iheanacho and, when he tore towards the edge of the area, United could not get close to him. Fred’s efforts to make the challenge were weak and Tielemans threaded his finish into the bottom corner.
There was also the 58th minute moment when Vardy sliced past Maguire after yet another quick Leicester transition only to drag wastefully wide. Rodgers had his hands in the air in celebration. At that point, Leicester were rampant.
Solskjaer’s substitutions did affect the game, with United briefly looking more purposeful. But any momentum that was building was erased upon Iheanacho’s second. Fernandes would force Kasper Schmeichel into an excellent save in the 88th minute from a free-kick bound for the top corner but it was the only time that the Leicester goalkeeper was extended.
“We were outstanding,” Rodgers said. “The timing of our pressure was good, our lines were good and we were always a threat with the ball. If we could win the FA Cup, it would be really special.”