Kelechi Iheanacho’s Stunner Secures Three Points For Leicester
Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho scored a stunning goal and set up another as Leicester City came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in their Premier League encounter at the King Power Stadium.
Iheanacho came into the game looking to extend his impressive goal-scoring form for the foxes, while Palace’s Wilfried Zaha was looking to cause an upset.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy threatened the Palace goal early on, but goalkeeper Vicente Guaita made a brilliant save. Leicester’s bright start was brought to a halt when Nigerian Ebere Eze ran through the midfield and found Zaha through on goal. The Ivorian slotted the ball past Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to give Palace the lead.
Zaha’s goal took his tally for the season to 10 goals, the Ivorian’s joint-highest in a Premier League season.
Leicester mounted a fight back as they continued to create chances. Super Eagles’ Wilfred Ndidi almost equalised for the foxes, but Patrick van Aanholt reacted quickly to block his effort as the game remained 1-0 to Palace at half-time.
In the second half, it took barely five minutes for the hosts to respond when Iheanacho capitalised on a defensive mistake from Cheikhou Kouyate and rolled the ball into the path of Timothy Castagne. The midfielder curled the ball into the top corner of the next to equalise for the hosts.
Palace striker Christian Benteke then missed two chances to put his side back in the game when he sent a free header from a corner into the arms of Schmeichel. Leicester made them pay as Palace failed to convert its chances.
Iheanacho made a brilliant run in behind Scott Dann and Van Aanholt, showed good footwork and placed a stunning ball past the Palace defenders and the goalkeeper into the roof of the net that left Guaita with no chance.
Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/svOx39xZj9
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 26, 2021
It was the Nigerian’s 14th goal in 14 games in all competitions for Leicester.
The match finished 2-1 to Leicester as the hosts consolidated third spot on the Premier League table, seven points clear of fifth-placed West Ham. Crystal Palace remain 13th, 11 points clear of the relegation zone but not yet mathematically safe.
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