Kelechi Iheanacho Scores First Premier League Hat-Trick
Nigerian international and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho’s first Premier League hat-trick inspired Leicester City to a 5-0 demolition of bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United at the King Power Stadium.
It was Paul Heckingbottom’s first game as interim coach of Sheffield United after Chris Wilder departed the club on Saturday.
Leicester started to dominate possession early and created chances through Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy, but the Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale did brilliantly to save both efforts. Before halftime, Vardy made a run down the left flank and unselfishly squared the ball to Iheanacho for an easy tap-in to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
The Foxes continued to press the visitors in the second half and the Super Eagles striker set up Vardy twice. However, the former England striker failed to convert and his run of seven games without a goal continued.
Leicester’s second eventually came when half-time substitute Marc Albrighton picked out Perez after a great run down the right wing. Perez fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net to extend the lead for the hosts.
Shortly after, Iheanacho added his second goal of the afternoon after a neat one-two with Vardy. The Nigerian found himself in the box and fired the ball into the net to make it 3-0 to the hosts.
With two goals already in the game, Iheanacho was in the mood and wasn’t planning to stop there. The Nigerian has been displaying his great abilities in recent games and his potential was finally being realised against Sheffield United.
Five minutes later, fellow Nigerian Wilfred Ndidi found Iheanacho in the middle of the opposition half, and the striker worked himself into space before firing the ball from 25 yards out into the right bottom corner of the net.
Leicester’s fifth goal came when Vardy’s cross was turned into the net at close range by Sheffield defender Ethan Ampadu for an own goal to round off the demolition of Sheffield United.
It was a vital win for Leicester, who move into second place above Manchester United. Sheffield United remain at the bottom of the table with 14 points.
With a number of Leicester players out injured, Man of the match Iheanacho has been showing why he deserves a regular spot in the starting eleven team. He has scored in three successive Premier League games for the first time.
“[Iheanacho] has been in great form, he’s playing at a really high level,” Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers said. “It wasn’t just his goals, he is dropping in short to get into the right spaces that we wanted him to where we could take advantage of it.”
“Him and Jamie up front, the combination was very good with Ayoze in behind. His [Vardy’s] movement is just so good and it allows the players to get up with him.”
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