Connect with us

EUROPA League

Nigerians -Ndidi, Lookman and Iheanacho   power Leicester to big Europa win at King Power Stadium

Published

on

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi celebrates scoring their first goal against Randers. PHOTO: REUTERS

Leicester City beat Danish side Randers 4-1 in their Europa Conference League knockout round play-off first leg.

Wilfried Ndidi gave the Foxes the lead with a side-footed finish from Ademola Lookman’s pass.

Vito Hammershoej-Mistrati levelled for Randers following an assist by Nigerian-born Tosin Kehinde against the run of play, but Harvey Barnes restored the lead with a turn and clever finish.

Patson Daka added a third and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall slotted home after good work by Kelechi Iheanacho.

Daka appeared offside before tapping in after Youri Tielemans’ shot was parried – but the video assistant referee system is only used in the final of Uefa’s newest tournament.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers claimed he did not know what this competition was or that his side were in it after finishing third in their Europa League group.

Advertisement

But he named a strong team nonetheless and the second leg in Denmark next week should be a formality.

The winners of this tie face one of the Europa Conference League group winners in the last 16.

Winning the whole thing would put Leicester in next year’s Europa League and it may be their best bet of doing so.

They were far too good for the Danish Cup winners, who have never been further than the first round of a European competition before.

Daka headed over, Dewsbury-Hall had a shot cleared off line, Caglar Soyuncu had a half-volley saved and Daniel Amartey headed wide – all before the first goal.

Advertisement

The chances continued to come, 23 shots in total, and they will rarely have an easier night in Europe.

The one worry was James Maddison going down unchallenged in the second half, although he was able to walk off the pitch with assistance.

Rodgers told BT Sport: “He wasn’t feeling well so we took him off. He is in with the medics and he feels fine.”

Leicester had not won in five games in all competitions before this win.

“This group will get back to its level, it is just time and players coming back,” added Rodgers. “The fluency was good, we looked dynamic.

Advertisement

“Our goal for the remainder of the season is to finish as high as we can in the league, to keep developing, improving and to get players back.

“We want to finish as strong as we can and bring that into the following season. In this competition, everyone is in it to win it and we are no different.”

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement