Leeds United traveled to Leicester City to take on Leicester in the League Carabao Cup tonight. Both teams were in search of a boost, with Leeds finally stopping the rot with a win against Bristol City in the Championship after losing three straight and four in five league matches. Meanwhile, Leicester City are currently manager-less after sacking Craig Shakespeare after only appointing him to the full-time job this past June after collecting only six points in eight matches. Leicester had won at the weekend, and was looking to extend their good fortunes in a decent Cup run.
In the end, Leicester showed why they were the Premier League club in the second half, and while Leeds started brightly, they were unable to hang on against Leicester City. No shame in losing to a Premier League club at this stage, especially with the number of changes in the squad and an important Yorkshire derby coming up against Sheffield United on Friday night.
The game started well for both clubs, with some early pressure by Leicester that was countered well by Leeds, as it seemed to take a while for the visitors from the Championship a few minutes to settle down and play their game.
Grot with a one-two with Roofe, breaks into the box and drives a shot against Hamer's legs. Nice move, good chance. 0-0 on 13 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) October 24, 2017
Nice feet from Roofe to find Hernandez who skips into space and fires a quality finish in off the bar from 20 yards. 0-1 on 27 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) October 24, 2017
Jay-Roy Grot had an early chance for Leeds, but the big Dutchman could only shoot right at the Leicester keeper after making a good move to get open. Pablo Hernandez opened the scoring for Leeds in the 27th minute, scoring from a very good shot from outside the box to beat the keeper.
another occasion where you were looking for Wiedwald to dispatch ball and man. Poor goal to concede.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) October 24, 2017
Felix Wiedwald made a hash of a Leicester City attack, failing to deal with a Slimani attack and after the ball was cleared poorly, Iheanacho pounced on a loose ball and shot it to the bottom left corner and Wiedwald failed to make up for his previous error and somehow failed to get to the shot.
The goal seemed to liven up Leicester, and Leeds were lucky to not allow another goal after Demari Gray had a shot rattle the crossbar. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was fouled late in the half and looked to limp a wee bit before half-time.
Luke Ayling came on at halftime to take up his usual spot at right back as Vurnon Anita shifted over to take up the left-back position as Borthwick-Jackson departed the match.
Wiedwald did nothing to calm the nerves early in the second half, appearing to take the ball out of the box at one point and a huge miscommunication between him and his defenders allowed Leicester to get a good chance with him left stranded.
Well done Wiedwald. Forces us to ask why you didn't do that with the first one? #lufc #MOT
— Mighty Whites Pod (@mightywhitespod) October 24, 2017
Of course, just because that’s what happens, Wiedwald made a couple of nice saves in and around the 60th minute to deny some good goal-scoring opportunities from Leicester. Leeds dodged a bullet later on after Slimani somehow missed an open header less than a yard from goal, sending the ball into row Z instead.
Slimani converts from close range after being picked out by Iheanacho. That goal has been coming. 2-1, 70 mins
— Richard Sutcliffe (@RSootyYPSport) October 24, 2017
Slimani wasn’t going to miss again, and in the 70th minute, Slimani beat Jansson to a squared ball that was always going into the back of the net. Slimani caused all kinds of problems all night, and it’s worth mentioning that he cost Leicester City 30 million last year and can’t even get into the first team this year.
Mahrez sprints in off the left, finds space and curls a shot inside Wiedwald's far post. Game over. 3-1 on 89 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) October 24, 2017
Riyad Mahrez put the game out of reach for Leicester in the 89th minute, as he scored one of those goals that got Leicester the league title two years ago and into the Champions League quarterfinals last season.
Leeds looked like they were into the match for the first half, but there is no shame in losing to a Premier League club that showed up to play. Leicester is a good team that just might need a new manager to take them up the table in the Premier League, as whatever magic that Shakespeare was able to spin in his first few matches for the club disappeared this season.
So Leeds are out of the League Cup, but they can hang their heads high as they didn’t look completely out of place against a Premier League club that won the title in the 2015-16 season. Good luck to Leicester, and now Leeds can concentrate on beating Sheffield United later this week.