It was all meant to be about Jamie Vardy’s comeback but Kelechi Iheanacho had other ideas. An impressive performance from Brighton that yielded everything but a winning goal was undone in the last few seconds as the substitute booked Leicester’s place in the quarter-finals.
Even Brendan Rodgers had to admit it was probably more than his side deserved from a patchy performance but having now reached the last eight in successive seasons for the first time since 1969, perhaps the four-times losing finalists will fancy their chances of winning this competition for the first time? “I’m so happy for everyone,” said Rodgers.
Leicester’s top-four challenge has stuttered slightly in Vardy’s absence since mid-January because of a groin injury and their manager admitted before kick-off that the return of his leading goalscorer and midfield linchpin Wilfred Ndidi as part of seven changes from the side that drew with Wolves on Sunday had been a major boost before their meeting with Liverpool this weekend.
Graham Potter also decided to retain only four of his starting lineup from their last match, with the goalkeeper Christian Walton making only his sixth appearance in eight years at the club. The 25-year-old was largely a spectator as the temperature plunged well below freezing during a slow-paced first half. Brighton’s recent run of six matches unbeaten had been their best so far under Potter and his side looked more threatening as they grew in confidence.
Having managed a grand total of four touches in Brighton’s penalty area, the hosts’ sense of urgency increased after the break and Dan Burn was fortunate to see his wild clearance from a free-kick fly just wide of the goal.
Ayoze Pérez needed treatment after a clash with Walton left the Spaniard clutching his ankle but having been stood down from officiating in the Premier League this weekend after reporting he had received death threats on social media, referee Mike Dean correctly ruled it was not a penalty.
Vardy and Ndidi were withdrawn on the hour along with a frustrated Pérez, before Brighton’s Andi Zeqiri then thought he had scored with a clever dinked finish, only for it to be disallowed for offside. Cengiz Under was next to be disappointed after assistant referee Darren Cann – fresh from recording an episode of the TV quiz show Pointless earlier in the day in which he won the jackpot – ruled Iheanacho had been offside in the buildup to another disallowed goal. But a concerning knee injury to James Justin that resulted in the 22-year-old leaving the pitch on a stretcher in the buildup to another close shave from Zeqiri was the last thing Leicester needed as extra time loomed.
However, it was Iheanacho’s towering header from a Youri Tielemans cross that broke Brighton’s hearts in the final minute of injury time – “a harsh way to lose,” Potter reflected. “It was really freezing so I couldn’t be bothered to do extra time,” Iheanacho said.
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3paPXHQ
via IFTTT
No Comment