Europa: Iheanacho fires blank in 155th Foxes game
Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho failed to add to his 44-goal tally on his 155th appearance for Leicester City, who beat Danish side Randers 3-1 to advance to the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League on a 7-2 aggregate win on Thursday.
The Nigerian, who was making his 27th appearance of the season, his 10th start for the Foxes, last scored for the Foxes in their 4-1 loss to Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup game on February 6.
A goal from Harvey Barnes and a brace from James Maddison secured a comfortable win for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Barnes scored the opener after just one minute and 40 seconds courtesy of an assist from Wilfred Ndidi.
The strike was the second-quickest in the Europa Conference League in the history of the competition after Ferdy Druijf scored after 33 seconds for Rapid Vienna against Vitesse.
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Iheanacho had an assist for Maddison’s second goal while countryman Stephen Odey, who was handed a starting role for Randers, scored a consolatory goal in the 83rd minute to make it 3-1 after he capitalised on an error from the Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
The Nigerian, who had earlier forced two brilliant saves from Schmeichel, has now scored 12 times in 20 appearances for Randers this term.
Leicester Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman also featured in what was his 26th game of the season but also didn’t add to his six-goal tally.
At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, defender Zaidu Sanusi made his 25th appearance of the season for FC Porto, who qualified for the next round of the Europa League after the Portuguese side drew 2-2 with Lazio.
Zaidu was cautioned in first half additional time for elbowing Felipe Anderson.
Lazio started well and their returning talisman Ciro Immobile opened the scoring in the 19th minute – and had two other strikes ruled out for offside – but Medhi Taremi’s penalty, awarded after a VAR check, brought Porto level in the 31st minute. Matheus Uribe gave Porto the lead in the 68th minute, but Danilo Cataldi drew Lazio level.
Porto advanced to the next round with a 4-3 aggregate win.
In Norway, Nigerian striker, Victor Boniface, replaced Runar Espejord in the 65th minute as Bodo/Glimt beat Celtic 2-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
Goalkeeper Toby Oluwayemi, who was born in England to Nigerian parents, was on the bench for Celtic.
Forward Henry Onyekuru played for 60 minutes before he was substituted for Mathieu Valbuena in Olympiakos’ 3-0 defeat at home to Atalanta. The Italian side qualified for the next round after a 5-1 aggregate victory.
The Greek giants have now been eliminated in 15 of their last 16 two-legged contests after losing the first match.
PUNCH/Nnenna.O
