Leicester 2 Sevilla 0 (agg 3-2): Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton help send Foxes to Champions League quarters
Fans in seventh heaven as Craig Shakespeare's men produce epic comeback to keep on course for historic European glory
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KASPER SCHMEICHEL produced a late penalty save as goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton sent Leicester to the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Sevilla.
The Spaniards enjoyed the first chance of the game, with Kasper Schmeichel forced into action to deny Samir Nasri’s clever low shot.
Robert Huth was then lucky to avoid a red card after elbowing Adil Rami in the face before Leicester started to up the tempo.
Shinji Okazaki’s shot was blocked as Danny Drinkwater fired wide following some impressive possession from the home side.
But the pressure started to tell on visiting goalie Sergio Rico as Leicester chased down every ball to prevent Sevilla from starting plays at the back.
And the Foxes’ efforts eventually paid off in the 26th minute when Morgan bundled in Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick to send the King Power wild.
It was the first away goal Sevilla had conceded in Europe this season and Jorge Sampaoli seemed determined to grab an equaliser before half-time, with Gabriel Mercado and Nasri trying their luck.
But Leicester were ready to defend in numbers and went in at the break knowing they were just 45 minutes away from the next stage of the tournament.
Sevilla showed they meant business when the two teams went back on, with Mercado and Pablo Sarabia subbed off for Mariano and Stevan Jovetic.
And the Spaniards started quickly, with Wissam Ben Yedder leading a number of dangerous attacks.
Sergio Escudero then gave Leicester fans the fright of their lives with a long-range cracker which curled past Schmeichel before smashing against the crossbar.
However, the Foxes were soon in dreamland when Albrighton doubled their advantage after pouncing on a mistake in the Sevilla box.
Sampaoli barked at his men to push forward as the clock ticked down but was not amused as a number of chances were fluffed.
Joaquin Correa forced Schmeichel into a good save before Nasri was sent off for appearing to headbutt Jamie Vardy after being shoved by the Leicester man.
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But there was more drama when Schmeichel gave away a penalty after bringing down Vitolo with ten minutes to play.
But the great Dane produced a fine save to deny Steven N'Zonzi and prevent the game from going into extra time.
Sampaoli was then sent to stands despite only returning from a touchline ban before Vardy almost made it three on the night, but the striker's header was just about kept out by Rico.
Vardy then spurned another glorious chance to put the result beyond doubt but nobody seemed to mind as the ref blew his whistle and confirmed another shock in Leicester's dream Euro hunt.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Sevilla may be the pride of Spain’s Andalusia region but their favourite anthem for their players is definitely more French than Spanish as they sing their love for the club to the tune of La Marseillaise.
- Foxes fans unfurled a banner with Shakespeare yanking back a rabid chained Mastiff with the legend: “Let slip the dogs of war.”
- Unfortunately the majority of those who saw it assumed it featured Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, rather than Shakey! Still, it’s the thought that counts.
- Ouch! Robert Huth gave Adil Rami an early welcome to Leicester – German style – with a wicked elbow to the chops area. Fortunately none of the five officials on duty spotted it. Fingers crossed it stays that way and there is no retrospective action taken.
- Sevilla goalie Sergio Rico added to the sense that the visitors were rattled when he came and missed a simple punch. Islam Slimani must have been licking his lips on the bench hoping to use his aerial power late on, if required.
- That notorious ‘enforcer,’ Samir Nasri became the first player booked for a spiteful hack on 20-year-old Wilfred Ndidi. Hey ref, protect the ball-players!
- However when Sevilla skipper Vicente Iborra conceded another free kick he was made to pay as Wes Morgan bundled home Riyad Mahrez’s cross to send the King Power wild.
- Morgan’s celebration wasn’t too shabby as he pulled out a pretend telescope to spy into the crowd – Captain Morgan pirate style! The famous drinks brand used Morgan on the front of their rum bottles last season to mark the Foxes’ title success.
- At that point, all Leicester needed was for Kasper Schmeichel to come up with his fifth clean sheet in his sixth tie and Leicester would be in the quarter finals. It sounded easy – if you said it fast enough!
- Leicester did the sensible thing to put Sevilla back in their place ….. by scoring! Mahrez’s cross was headed out by Rami and Marc Albrighton produced a chest, a touch to set up and smashed the ball home.
Leicester's next five fixtures:
Arsenal (A): 11 Mar – Prem
Sevilla (H): 14 Mar – CL
West Ham (A): 18 Mar – Prem
Stoke (H): 1 Apr – Prem
Sunderland (H): 4 Apr – Prem
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Leicester: Schmeichel 7, Simpson 7, Morgan 7, Huth 7, Fuchs 7, Mahrez 8 (Amartey 6), Ndidi 7, Drinkwater 7, Albrighton 7, Okazaki 6 (Slimani 6), Vardy 7
Subs not used: Chilwell, King, Zieler, Gray, Ulloa
Goals: Morgan 27’, Albrighton 54’
Booked: Schmeichel, Mahrez, Ndidi, Vardy
Sevilla: Rico 6, Mercado 6 (Mariano 6), Pareja 6, Rami 6, Escudero 6, N’Zonzi 6, Iborra 6, Sarabia 6 (Jovetic 5), Nasri 4, Vitolo 7, Ben Yedder 6 (Correa 6)
Subs not used: Kranevitter, Soria, Vazquez, Lenglet
Booked: Nasri, Vitolo
Sent off: Nasri
STAR MAN: Riyad Mahrez
SOCIAL SAYS
THEY SAID
Leicester captain Wes Morgan: "I can't quite believe it, we didn't expect to get this far and here we are.
"We're not sure if it's ever going to happen again but we did it and proved a lot of people wrong. We've pulled off the impossible again.
"We'll take whoever comes, let's just enjoy the moment. It's a fantastic night for Leicester."
Leicester goalscorer Marc Albrighton: "I'm lost for words, what a night. I think we thoroughly deserve the win.
"To get two goals and a clean sheet against such a good team is fantastic.
"We've played brilliantly in this Champions League run and we want to keep it going as long as possible."