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Viktor Skripnik’s first game as a coach in the main draw of European competitions was not exactly a failure. But the trip to Leicester cannot be considered a success: Zorya suffered a crushing defeat. And although nothing critical has yet happened (however, the English team is the clear favorite in Group G, where Braga and AEK also play), the mentor has something to work on. In fact, the team’s defense put all three balls into their own net. And the attack was marked by two shots on target in 90 minutes …
But the “foxes” began the fight too constrained. Maybe it was the empty stands of the King Power. Perhaps – the fighting spirit of the opponent. Zorya played the first half of the time confidently, not allowing the hosts to wander. Viktor Skripnik’s charges were in no way inferior to Leicester’s and they had to open an account. Unfortunately, Kabaev, who closed the center of Lunev, decided to hit Schmeichel between the legs, but managed to reflect the blow. And this “bell” woke up the Brendan Rogers team.
The Foxes accelerated and soon scored the first goal. Khomchenovskiy hesitated on the flank, the owners “robbed” him and organized a counterattack. Barnes hit the post, but the ball bounced off the goalkeeper’s center. Iheanacho turned out to be the fastest of all, who went on to free Maddison. And it was not difficult for him to send the ball into an empty net – 1: 0! By the way, for James, the goal was the second in the last three matches in all tournaments – he scored the same amount in the previous 25 matches!
After that, Leicester attacked some more and again gave the opponent the initiative. I must say that the Lugansk team had chances to even the score before the break. But within a minute Ivanisenya, throwing the goalkeeper out the door, missed the goal, and then Lunev was a couple of centimeters short of Khomchenovsky’s serve. And immediately the famous soccer rule worked again! Iheanacho put five defenders of the Ukrainian team out of work with a heel pass, Barnes easily slipped through them and easily launched Shevchenko from the goalkeeper’s line – 2: 0. By the way, Kelechi became the first Nigerian! to have two assists in a Europa League game!
The second half started with the foxes’ attacks. However, the defense of “Zarya” worked to the maximum and soon it seemed that the situation began to change. The guests even started attacking. But Kochergin’s coup was not too difficult for Schmeichel. Skripnik made a double substitution, freeing Gladkoy and Perovich, but another Leicester knockout blow immediately followed. And again it was not without error: Ivanisenya decided to give the ball through the penalty area and presented the ball to Iheanacho. He was left alone in front of the goalkeeper and added a goal to the two assists – 3: 0.
Brendan Rogers realized the job was done and gradually eliminated the leaders from the field. But even this did not help Zarya: the guests did not have special opportunities to score at least one prestigious goal. One cannot help but recall that in the last 6 Europa League group stage away games, Lugansk’s team scored only one goal. Now this statistic has gotten even worse: 1 goal in seven away games …
3-0: This is the first Europa League / UEFA Cup win in Leicester’s history. Yes, the “foxes” have achieved the historic “victory”. In four previous encounters in these tournaments, they lost three times and drew once. The foxes will play their next game in LE against Athenian AEK in exactly one week. Zorya receives Portuguese Braga in the second round.
European League. Group G. 1st round.
Leicester City – Sunrise – 3: 0
James Maddison (29), Harvey Barnes (45), Future Iheanacho (66).
Yuri Tielemans (12) – Vladislav Kabaev (26), Vitaly Vernidub (77).
City of Leicester: Kasper Schmeichel – Christian Fuchs, Timothy Castagne (James Justin, 82), Wesley Fofana, Johnny Evans (Wes Morgan, 82) – James Maddison (Jengiz Under, 65), Yuri Tielemans (Hamza Choduri, 71), Dennis Prat, Harvey Barnes , Nampalis Mendy – Kelechi Iheanacho (Ayose Perez, 71).
Zarya: Nikita Shevchenko – Vitaly Vernidub, Denis Favorov (Agron Rufati, 76), Dmitry Ivanisenya – Vladlen Yurchenko, Vladislav Kochergin (Sergei Grin, 85), Yegor Nazarina, Dmitry Khomchenovsky (Andrey Tsyganik, 76), Lovro Tsveklo – Vladislav Kazáv 65 , Maxim Lunev (Alexander Gladky, 65).
Stadium: King Power (Leicester, England).
Referee: Stephanie Frappar (France).
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