KELECHI IHEANACHO fired cup kings Leicester a step closer to more Wembley glory. The Nigerian star’s shot allowed Ademola Lookman to break the deadlock at the start of the second half. Iheanacho then sealed the Foxes’ place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with an emphatic late finish. Brendan Rodgers’ FA Cup and […]
KELECHI IHEANACHO fired cup kings Leicester a step closer to more Wembley glory.
The Nigerian star’s shot allowed Ademola Lookman to break the deadlock at the start of the second half.
Iheanacho then sealed the Foxes’ place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with an emphatic late finish.
Brendan Rodgers’ FA Cup and Community Shield holders were pushed all the way by the Championship Lions on a nervy night at The Den.
But it was Iheanacho who proved to be the difference as the Premier League club ended a run of three matches without a win.
They had lost each of their previous three cup visits to Millwall, most recently in 2017 when Claudio Ranieri’s reigning Premier League champs were dumped out of the FA Cup fifth round by a 10-men Lions team then playing in League One.
Leicester made eight changes from the weekend and Millwall seven.
Millwall started the brighter and went close to taking a 13th minute lead when George Evans fired just wide after the Foxes had failed to deal with a long throw into their box.
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Lions winger Connor Mahoney then had a shot beaten away by Leicester keeper Danny Ward, making his first appearance since February.
The closest the visitors came to scoring in the first half was a Youri Tielemans free kick just over the bar.
But they seized control of this tie five minutes after the break when Millwall keeper George Long was unable to hold Kelechi Iheanacho’s low shot and Lookman smashed the ball into the unguarded net.
It was the former Charlton youngster’s first goal since he joined Leicester on loan from RB Leipzig last month.
He received a standing ovation from the 1,375 travelling fans when he was subbed by Patson Daka in the 70th minute.
The Lions, to their credit, refused to lie down but as they went hunting an equaliser they were caught counter.
And Iheanacho made the game safe for City by rifling an 88th minute shot into the roof of the net, after being played in by Wilfred Ndidi.
