Tag: Kelechi Iheanacho

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AFCON 2021: IHEANACHO STARS AS EAGLES EDGE EGYPT IN GROUP D OPENER

Kelechi Iheanacho overshadowed fellow Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez on Tuesday as Nigeria made a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign and title-holders Algeria were held. The Leicester City forward scored the only goal on 30 minutes as Nigeria overcame lacklustre Egypt 1-0 in a clash of Group D big guns in the northwestern city of Garoua. His match winner and overall performance earned Iheanacho the man-of-the-match award on a day when prolific Liverpool scorer Salah and Manchester City winger Mahrez failed to sparkle.

Captain Salah cut an isolated, frustrated, figure at the Stade Roumde Adjia and when he did get a scoring chance in the second half, his prod was saved by the boot of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.

It was an otherwise uneventful evening for the Nigeria shot-stopper, who must have anticipated being called into action more often against the record seven-time African champions.

“We had three things in mind — winning, retaining possession and cutting off the supply to Salah,” said Nigeria caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen.

“Every game will be treated like a final because each team in Cameroon must be respected regardless of the name of the country. There are no minor football nations anymore in Africa so if you do not plan and make the effort, you can be shocked,” he added.

This was the eighth meeting of the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs in the flagship African tournament and three-time champions Nigeria have won four and drawn two.

Nigeria succeeded after a troubled build-up in which German coach Gernot Rohr was fired following an unimpressive World Cup qualifying run and former national star Eguavoen took temporary charge.

Eguavoen’s squad was without forwards Victor Osimhen, Emmanuel Dennis and Odion Ighalo for a variety of reasons, but his team went on the offensive from the kick-off and did him proud.

Speedy winger Moses Simon played a major role when the Super Eagles took the lead at the 30,000-capacity stadium.

His cross was only partially cleared by Ahmed Hegazy and Nigerian Joseph Aribo nodded the ball into the path of Iheanacho, who hammered a half-volley past goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy.

After the later Group D match Guinea-Bissau are still without a win in three Cup of Nations appearances as Judilson ‘Pele’ Gomes missed a penalty and the woodwork saved Sudan twice in a 0-0 draw.

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KELECHI IHEANACHO STARS AGAIN AS LEICESTER DO A COME BACK WIN AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE

Leicester closed in on a Champions League return after red-hot Kelechi Iheanacho struck again to beat Crystal Palace.

The forward’s late winner – his 14th goal in 14 games – clinched a 2-1 victory to leave the Foxes three wins away from booking a top-four spot.

Timothy Castagne had earlier cancelled out Wilfried Zaha’s opener as the Foxes, who sit third in the Premier League, were forced to dig deep.

They moved seven points clear of fifth-placed West Ham with five games remaining and tantalisingly close to Europe’s top table.

Inconsistent Palace, with no immediate threat of relegation, gave the Foxes a fright but are destined to finish in mid-table.

They were immediately on the back foot at the King Power Stadium when Iheanacho’s pinpoint pass found Jamie Vardy, who ran out of room trying to round Vicente Guaita

The former England striker was also thwarted by Cheikhou Kouyate and fired over inside the first 10 minutes and would have been encouraged by the ease with which he found space.

Yet the Foxes found themselves behind from Palace’s first attack after 12 minutes.

Christian Benteke left Youri Tielemans in a heap in midfield and Leicester were suddenly exposed. Ebere Eze’s inch-perfect pass slipped Zaha in and the forward beat Kasper Schmeichel for his 10th top-flight goal of the season.

A home defeat to Palace was not in Leicester’s script as they aim to return to the Champions League after a four-year absence but the early gaps in the Eagles’ defence disappeared.

Palace closed ranks and dished out some thunderous challenges, especially on James Maddison and Iheanacho.

Caglar Soyuncu lashed over but Leicester were out of sync, missing the spark which has kept them in the top four all season, and Maddison’s shot which went for a throw summed up their struggles.

They reached the break behind but their recovery began after just five minutes of the second half.

Tielemans’ ball found Iheanacho and he held off Kouyate to tee up Castagne, who fired in high past Guaita from 10 yards.

Yet the Foxes needed Jonny Evans to keep them level just six minutes later.

Zaha put Jairo Riedewald clean through and he drew Schmeichel before passing across to Benteke – only for Evans’ brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny the striker a tap-in.

Leicester, though, began to regain some swagger and Maddison and Vardy shot at Guaita, while Vardy’s celebrations were quickly cut short by an offside flag after he turned in with 20 minutes left.

Just before, Benteke headed Eze’s corner straight at Schmeichel but Vardy went closer to a winner 13 minutes from time when he swapped passes with Iheanacho and fired across goal.

Tielemans shot wide but Leicester finally got the winner they had threatened with 10 minutes left.

Almost inevitably it was in-form Iheanacho and, when the striker collected Evans’ deep pass, he held off Patrick Van Aanholt, cut inside Scott Dann and lashed into the roof of the net.

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IHEANACHO SCORES AS LEICESTER HOLD OFF SOUTHAMPTON TO REACH FA CUP FINAL

Kelechi Iheanacho scored the game’s only goal as Leicester City saw out a narrow victory over Southampton at Wembley on Sunday night to book a spot against Chelsea in the FA Cup final

Leicester, who have never won the FA Cup, had the better of the chances in the first half and might have gone ahead near the half-hour mark when Jamie Vardy got in behind the Saints defence, but his chipped shot sailed just wide of the far post.

Iheanacho put the Foxes in front early in the second half when he collected the rebound from his own shot from Jamie Vardy’s cut-back and slotted his second attempt past Fraser Forster to give Brendan Rodger’s side the lead.

Leicester will play Chelsea, who beat Manchester City 1-0 in the other semi on Saturday, in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 15

A limited number of fans are expected to be allowed into Wembley for the final after a crowd of around 4,000, mainly local residents, were attended the semifinal as part of a test event for the return of crowds as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

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JESSE LINGARD BRACE DOWN LEICESTER CITY DESPITE IHEANACHO’S LATE STRIKES

Jesse Lingard continued his fine form with two goals as West Ham United returned to the top four with a 3-2 win over Leicester City at London Stadium.

West Ham went ahead on 29 minutes with a fantastic first-time finish from Lingard, who swept in Vladimir Coufal’s cross on the half-volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Lingard scored again on 44 minutes, tapping into an empty net after Jarrod Bowen beat Kasper Schmeichel to the ball.

Bowen added the Hammers’ third when he turned in Tomas Soucek’s pass three minutes into the second half.

Kelechi Iheanacho set up a tense finale with two goals in the final 20 minutes.

First the Nigerian finished on the turn after being set up by Ricardo Pereira before he fired in from close range in stoppage time.

West Ham held on to return to fourth place on 55 points, a point and a position behind Leicester.

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KELECHI IHEANACHO SIGNS NEW LEICESTER CONTRACT UNTIL 2024

Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a new deal running to 2024, the club have announced.

The 24-year-old Nigeria international, who joined from Manchester City in 2017, has been in sparkling recent form for the Foxes, scoring nine times in his last nine appearances in all competitions.

That included netting five goals in three Premier League matches in March, and he was named the division’s player of the month.

Iheanacho told Leicester’s official website: “I can’t express how I’m feeling. I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m overwhelmed! It’s a great moment and I’m happy that Leicester City gave me a new contract.

“It’s been a great time here. It’s not been easy, but there’s a lot of people here that are good people, great people to work with. They are nice people and they make me feel comfortable and welcome since I came in.

“It’s been really great being here. It’s like a family. I’m happy being here and hopefully I can stay here many more years.”

Iheanacho’s tally this season of 12 is among a total of 32 goals he has registered for Leicester in 117 games in all competitions.

He previously scored 12 goals in 46 league appearances for Manchester City, who Leicester face at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said of Iheanacho ahead of the fixture: “I think you see a young player playing at the top of his game.

“When he was at Manchester City he was a young developing player who hadn’t played much. He came here for a big fee (reported to be £25million) and then of course coming into a team with one of the league’s best strikers (Jamie Vardy) has needed some adapting from him.

“I can only speak for the two years I’ve been here but his work, his ambition to become a better player was always there.

“He’s a wonderful character within the squad, constantly smiling, and whatever role he’s been asked to play he’s played it very well.

“The combination between him and Jamie is very good and at 24 there’s a lot of improvement in him.”

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IHEANACHO STARS AS LEICESTER OUTCLASS MANCHESTER UNITED TO REACH FA CUP SEMI FINAL

Kelechi Iheanacho’s double fired Leicester to a 3-1 win over Manchester United and a first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years.

The in-form striker now has nine goals in his last nine games and booked a last four showdown with Southampton at Wembley next month.

Youri Tielemans also netted to put the Foxes – four-time runners-up – a game away from their first FA Cup final since 1969.

Mason Greenwood did haul United level in the first half – after Fred’s mistake presented Iheanacho with the opener.

It was just Leicester’s second win over United in 23 years but a deserved one as they outplayed and outfought the visitors.

The Europa League is now United’s only realistic chance of a trophy this season with Manchester City unlikely to be caught in the Premier League.

Fred set the tone for his own erratic display early when he lost the ball to allow Iheanacho and Ayoze Perez to break, Jamie Vardy’s initial cross was blocked but returned to the striker and Dean Henderson parried his low effort.

Vardy wasted a fine opening soon after when his shot was blocked by Harry Maguire with Iheanacho free but Leicester were sharper than United.

They were more controlled and composed and were gifted the lead by Fred after 24 minutes.

United tried to pass their way out from the back and, when Maguire played Fred into trouble, the midfielder sold Henderson woefully short.

It allowed Iheanacho to nip in, round the goalkeeper and tap into an empty net for his 12th goal in 18 FA Cup appearances.

The Foxes continued to press but were pegged back when United burst into life seven minutes before the break.

Paul Pogba found space on the left and his cross was dummied by Donny Van de Beek for Greenwood to sweep in from eight yards.

Perez came close to restoring Leicester’s lead ahead of half-time only for his 18-yard effort to go wide and the Foxes were missing the creativity of injured duo James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.

Yet, six minutes after the break, Tielemans – who is the Foxes’ chief creator without the pair – restored their lead.

The midfielder swapped passes with Iheanacho to drive towards goal and, as Fred struggled to keep up, United’s defence parted to allow the Belgium international to find the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Alex Telles drilled wide as United looked for an instant response before Vardy should have ended the tie after 58 minutes.

Again Iheanacho was involved as he found the striker who skipped past a static Maguire but, with just Henderson to beat, dragged wide of the near post.

It prompted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer into a quadruple change with Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani brought on, which did little to change United’s fortunes.

And former Manchester City striker Iheanacho – who scored a hat-trick against Sheffield United last week – sealed Leicester’s progress with 12 minutes left when he was left unmarked to head in Marc Albrighton’s free kick from two yards.

Kasper Schmeichel turned Fernandes’ late free-kick over but there was no way back for United.

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IHEANACHO’S FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE HATRICK HELP LEICESTER HAMMER ROCK BOTTOM SHEFFIELD UNITED

Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first Premier League hat-trick as rampant Leicester put sorry Sheffield United to the sword at the King Power Stadium.

Ayoze Perez’s strike and an Ethan Ampadu own goal sealed a 5-0 success for the Foxes which saw them return to second place in the table, ahead of Manchester United’s game against West Ham later.

For the Blades, it rounded off a difficult week which had seen the departure of manager Chris Wilder the day before the match.

Sunday brought the day United fans never wanted to contemplate – the first game after the Wilder era.

There has been few more remarkable or romantic stories in English football than the Sheffield lad and Blades supporter who dreamed longingly out at the hallowed Bramall Lane turf as a ballboy, who would then play for the club he loved and pack the kop with his friends and family, lead them from the stagnancy of the third tier to a top-half finish in the Premier League, and make a fanbase fall in love with their team once more.

It took Wilder just four years, but nine months on the club’s injury crisis coupled with the financial realities of top-flight football for a recently-promoted team and – crucially – fundamental differences exposed between Wilder and the owner, the bubble burst.

Under-23s coach Paul Heckingbottom took charge on Sunday but it was the same old story for the Blades, as they struggled to make an impression or trouble Leicester as an attacking threat. The Foxes dominated and could have won by a bigger margin.

Jamie Vardy dragged a 20-yard shot wide after eight minutes before Perez’s glancing header was touched on to the post by Aaron Ramsdale shortly afterwards. Ramsdale then blocked a low shot from Vardy with his legs.

Leicester made the breakthrough six minutes before half-time. Some sharp, incisive passing between Youri Tielemans and Perez resulted in Vardy getting in behind the Blades defence down the left-hand side. His low cross left Iheanacho with a simple tap-in from close range.

Five minutes into the second half, Iheanacho tried to return the favour for Vardy but he saw his effort brilliantly headed off the line by Chris Basham.

Iheanacho then put Vardy through on goal after an hour but once again Ramsdale denied the diminutive striker with his legs.

A second goal was coming and Leicester doubled their lead after 64 minutes. Marc Albrighton led a counter-attack after the Blades had a free-kick in a dangerous position, and teed-up Perez who found the bottom corner with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Five minutes later, it was 3-0 to the Foxes. Vardy was the provider for Iheanacho once more, with the striker guiding the ball past goalkeeper Ramsdale from 12 yards.

Iheanacho completed his hat-trick after 78 minutes, driving a low shot from 25 yards beyond Ramsdale and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was the Nigerian striker’s first Premier League treble, and he looked quite emotional as the game restarted.

It got worse for the Blades two minutes later when Vardy’s shot from the left side of the penalty area, which looked to be heading wide, ended up in the back of the net via the outstretched leg of Ampadu.

It should have been six, and another goal for Iheanacho, but his shot was deflected over the crossbar by George Baldock.

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EPL: IHEANACHO VOLLEY EARNS LEICESTER A POINT AT BURNLEY

A stunning volley from Kelechi Iheanacho earned Leicester City a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Matej Vydra had given Burnley a fourth-minute lead when he pounced on a mistake by Hamza Choudhury to score his first Premier League goal since February 2020.

But Leicester were back on level terms in the 34th minute through Iheanacho’s sublime first-time volley from Wilfred Ndidi’s pass over the top.

Sean Dyche’s men almost restored their advantage shortly after half-time, but Chris Wood’s header was brilliantly saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

Burnley continued to press for a winner and a sweet half-volley by Ashley Westwood came back off the post.

The result keeps Burnley in 15th on 29 points, six above the relegation zone, while Leicester remain third on 50 points.

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IHEANACHO SCORES AS LEICESTER EDGE FULHAM AT CRAVEN COTTAGE.

Leicester City moved ahead of champions Liverpool in the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Kelechi Iheanacho headed in James Maddison’s pinpoint cross to give Leicester the lead after 17 minutes.

Kasper Schmeichel then tipped Tosin Adarabioyo’s powerful header over the bar to deny Fulham an equaliser before James Justin doubled the Foxes’ lead shortly before half-time.

The defender rounded Alphonse Areola before tucking in from close range for his second goal of the season.

Substitute Ivan Cavaleiro fired narrowly wide shortly after the restart and Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s effort found the side-netting as Fulham tried in vain to mount a comeback.

The result moves Leicester into third, two points ahead of Liverpool, who lost 1-0 at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Fulham stay 18th, seven points from safety, with 17 matches to play.

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UEL: IHEANACHO STARS AS LEICESTER THRASH BRAGA 4-1.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as Leicester thrashed Braga 4-0 to keep up their perfect start in the Europa League group stage.

A touch of fortune helped Iheanacho bundled in an opener 20 minutes when Matheus could not hold his heavy touch and allowed him to tap in from close-range, with a significant deflection off Bruno Viana helping his 25-yard drive beat the goalkeeper again two minutes into the second period.

He turned provider with a wonderfully disguised pass from a shooting position to tee up Dennis Praet midway through the half (67) before James Maddison got on the scoresheet after evading Raul Silva’s challenge with 12 minutes remaining.

The victory moves Leicester three points clear at the top of their Europa League group, ahead of their visitors, with three wins from three games – and already on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages.