Leicester sink Sevilla to reach Champions League quarter-finals
Leicester beat Sevilla 2-0 to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals as the revival under Craig Shakespeare saw the Foxes take a place among Europe’s elite.
Captain Wes Morgan bundled in at the back post to level the tie on aggregate and Marc Albrighton scored a second to put the hosts ahead 3-2 on aggregate and ensure Sevilla needed two goals.
Samir Nasri was sent off for a headbutt on Jamie Vardy before Kasper Schmeichel saved Steven N’Zonzi’s poor penalty and head coach Jorge Sampaoli was dismissed from the touchline as the English champions advanced.
Deja vu…
First leg penalty save … ✔️️
Second leg penalty save … ✔️️
Schmeichel ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/wnBmQpChyL— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 14, 2017
Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare: “We might just be the surprise team. We know there’s going to be some terrific teams, as there were in the previous round. We have to be delighted with the performance and knocking Seville out. Their record in Europe is there for everyone to see. We’re in there on merit. Make no mistake about that.”
Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli: “It became a really tall order after missing the penalty. We never stopped trying to look for opportunities to score and to get back into the game. It’s too early to talk about failure. I’m very proud of my team. Even though we played with 10 men, we never stopped trying.”
Tweet of the match
Wow! Just Wow!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 14, 2017
Star man – Kasper Schmeichel
PICTURED: He's gone and done it again! Kasper Schmeichel saves a penalty at Leicester City Stadium. #LeiSev pic.twitter.com/XdckdubWOv
— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 14, 2017
Watched by his father Peter, a Champions League winner 18 years ago with Manchester United, the goalkeeper denied Nasri in the opening moments and saved a penalty from N’Zonzi which would have forced extra-time.
Moment of the match
54 – A Mahrez cross deflects to him on the edge of the box and he hits a left foot strike low into the corner. We love it! #LeiSev
— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 14, 2017
Shinji Okazaki’s shot was blocked and the ball looped to Riyad Mahrez. Adil Rami failed to deal with the cross, heading to Albrighton. Three touches later it was in the net as Albrighton showed the composure of a striker to finish with aplomb. He controlled it on his chest, played it out of his feet then tucked the ball in left-footed. Leicester were 3-2 ahead in the tie and Foxes fans were in raptures. The celebrations were matched when Schmeichel saved N’Zonzi’s spot-kick.
In with the crowd
I think…maybe…it's supposed to be Craig Shakespeare? #lcfc pic.twitter.com/hiVrjtQNrw
— Nick Mashiter (@nickmashiter) March 14, 2017
Leicester supporters waved blue flags and white ones, but refused to accept defeat. A banner depicting Craig Shakespeare with a Doberman dog was unfurled at the Kop, accompanied by the words ‘Let slip the dogs of war’. That is a line spoken by Mark Anthony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar after the main protagonist is stabbed in the back.
Shakespeare has replaced another Roman hero, Claudio Ranieri, and last week had a 92 per cent approval rating in a poll in the local newspaper. Leicester showed plenty of energy and bite, leaving Sevilla whimpering.
Player ratings
Leicester: Kasper Schmeichel 8, Danny Simpson 6, Christian Fuchs 7, Wes Morgan 7, Robert Huth 7, Danny Drinkwater 7, Wilfred Ndidi 7, Shinji Okazaki 7, Jamie Vardy 6, Riyad Mahrez 7, Marc Albrighton 8. Substitutes: Islam Slimani (for Okazaki, 64 minutes) 6, Daniel Amartey (for Mahrez, 89 minutes) 5.
Sevilla: Sergio Rico 6, Gabriel Mercado 5, Nicolas Pareja 5, Adil Rami 4, Pablo Sarabia 5, Sergio Escudero 7, Vicente Iborra 6, Steven N’Zonzi 6, Wissam Ben Yedder 5, Samir Nasri 4, Vitolo 5. Substitutes: Mariano Ferreira (for Mercado, 46 minutes) 5, Stevan Jovetic (for Sarabia, 46 minutes) 6, Joaquin Correa (for Ben Yedder, 68 minutes) 5.
Who’s up next?
West Ham v Leicester (Premier League, Saturday, March 18)
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (LaLiga, Sunday, March 19)
PA
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