Leicester vs Manchester City : ENGLAND: FA Community Shield – Final
Leicester vs Manchester City Highlights & Report 07 August 2021
Iheanacho K.(Penalty), Leicester
Goal! Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester) wins the battle of wills and sends an unstoppable penalty past Zackary Steffen into right side of the goal.
Leicester vs Manchester City Highlights & Report 07 August 2021 – Kelechi killshot seals shield for Leicester
FA Cup holders Leicester City have begun their season with a 1-0 Community Shield win over English champions Manchester City at Wembley. A late penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho saw the Foxes lift this trophy for only the second time in their 137-year history.
With more first-team regulars in the starting XI, Leicester City looked the better side in the opening period, with Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy in particular causing the opposing defence all kinds of problems. The latter of that dynamic duo forced Man City’s reserve goalkeeper Zachary Steffen into a sensational save just before HT, when he tipped an unmarked Vardy’s shot onto his near post from mere yards.
Indeed, this was the best of several saves from the American custodian, during a first half in which Man City looked far from the slick machine that waltzed to the 2020/21 Premier League title. Where the ‘Cityzens’ were concerned, only İlkay Gündoğan came close to scoring, with a free-kick which was comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Former Leicester star Riyad Mahrez had several opportunities to open the scoring in a second half that began in frantic end to end fashion, but the Algerian frustratingly wasted both chances. Midway through a half otherwise bereft of clear opportunities, the most expensive player in British football history, Jack Grealish, came on to make his debut for Man City. Following his record-breaking £100m move from Aston Villa, he received a fantastic reception from the Sky Blue-clad fans in attendance, and cut a determined figure as the league champions set up for a strong finish.
There would be a final twist, however, as Leicester City were gifted the opportunity to take the lead in the final minutes, as Iheanacho pounced on a Nathan Aké mistake, with Aké then fouling the Nigerian, resulting in a penalty being awarded. Iheanacho took his chance, blasting fearlessly into the net from 12 yards, to send the Leicester fans into raptures and seal a perfect start to the Foxes’ new season.
That’s it for today, Paul Tierney has blown his whistle and the game is over.