Iheanacho lifts Leicester over Walsall in FA Cup win

FA CUP Iheanacho lifts Leicester over Walsall in FA Cup win

Ayoola Kelechi 16:12 - 28.01.2023

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored Leicester’s only goal in their win over Walsall

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to inspire Leicester City to a 1-0 win over Walsall in the FA Cup fifth round.

Iheanacho was brought on in the 63rd minute and took only five minutes to score Leicester’s eventual winner.

The goal sends Leicester into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

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Originally not part of Leicester’s starting 11, it still fell to Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho to rescue the Foxes from the ignominy of an FA Cup replay against Walsall who are currently 14th in League Two.

How it happened

Leicester started with a relatively strong lineup, with Harvey Barnes, Patson Daka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, and Harvey Barnes all starting for the Foxes.

Despite the heavy influence of their first team, Leicester were unable to find a way past Walsall throughout the first half despite firing off 12 shots.

They went into the break level with the League Two side but came out of the dressing room determined to break the deadlock.

They had an opportunity to take the lead just three minutes after the break, but Tielemans could only watch as his penalty hit the post and bounced out of play.

With the match heading toward a stalemate, Leicester brought on their regular FA Cup hero Kelechi Iheanacho in a bid to rescue the game.

Iheanacho lived up to expectation and scored within five minutes of his introduction to send Leicester to the next round of the FA Cup.

Leicester into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup

Walsall were unable to find a comeback and Leicester are now a step closer to a possible repeat of FA Cup success.

Iheanacho’s 17th FA Cup goal is the most of any player in the competition since he made his debut and he could be on his way to leading Leicester to another FA Cup success after scoring the winner in their most recent FA Cup final.

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