Get ready for March 14 at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, the scenes are going to be unreal. Sevilla pulled out the victory many had predicted in the first leg but only by a 2-1 scoreline.
Sevilla cruised to a 2-0 lead by the 62nd minute, and it should’ve been much more if not for the work of Kasper Schmeichel, but Jamie Vardy scored a precious away goal to keep the tie more than alive.
From a Leicester perspective, losing 2-1 away to the back-to-back-to-back Europa League champions is a huge improvement on losing 2-0 to Swansea City away.
Unfortunately for Leicester, the first half was a microcosm of their season so far. Sevilla dominated possession and seemed to be well aware of Leicester’s one attacking tactic.
A stooping header from Christian Fuchs towards his own net was probably the best chance created by a Leicester player in the opening 45, but Schmeichel was able to prevent the disaster.
In the 13th minute, Wes Morgan clumsily brought down Joaquin Correa in the area, and the referee rightly pointed to the spot; Morgan’s unbeatable form last season becomes less and less explainable with each passing day. But Schmeichel came to Leicester’s rescue when he smothered Correa’s penalty.
Rather than it being an exceptional save, it really was a terrible, slow-moving, low-rolling effort from the Argentine. Schmeichel then produced a fine save in the 22nd minute to deny Sergio Escudero at full stretch.
It seemed only a matter of time before Sevilla were rewarded for their dominance, and Pablo Sarabia duly scored the opener in the 25th minute. A fantastic cross from Escudero from the left reached Sarabia, and he out jumped Fuchs to send his header beyond Schmeichel, who could do nothing.
Beautiful cross, powerful header and a little off the post. #SFCLEI #UCL https://t.co/lqMkxQiPlM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 22, 2017
Thirty minutes gone and Sevilla had 80% of possession and seven shots. Leicester had offered next to nothing, their long balls in the general direction of Jamie Vardy troubling no one but the ball boys.
Schmeichel produced another fine save to divert a Correa attempt out for a corner in the 37th minute, and the half time whistle was a welcome relief for the reigning Premier League champions.
The second half brought more promise from Leicester, the Foxes registering two shots in quick succession including their first on target. But Vitolo struck the post from a tight angle and watched the ball roll agonizingly across the face of goal and away only minutes later.
In the 62nd minute, Sevilla got their second as Correa made amends for his earlier penalty miss. Stevan Jovetic drove at the defense and Robert Huth and Morgan were drawn towards him. Jovetic slipped it to Correa and he finished emphatically.
At 2-0 and with Sevilla firmly in control, it seemed like damage control was Leicester’s best approach before the second leg at the King Power.
But in the 73rd minute, to the shock of the Ramon Sanchez Stadium, Leicester pulled a goal back through, who else, Jamie Vardy — what a time to get his first Champions League goal. Danny Drinkwater provided the assist.
Jamie Vardy FINALLY gets his first #UCL goal! #SFCLEI https://t.co/nDuErVFEWs
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 22, 2017
The match suddenly turned into a ferocious end-to-end affair, and Advil Rami struck the post with a header in the 88th minute. Sevilla will travel to England knowing that they dominated the first match, and with coach Jorge Sampaoli returning to the technical area after his suspension.
For Leicester, the knowledge that they're returning home with a chance of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals is more than enough.
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