Atletico end Leicester dream despite Jamie Vardy strike
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Updated 18/04/2017 at 21:33 GMT
King Power Stadium, Champions League, quarter-final - Leicester City 1 (Vardy, 61) Atlético Madrid 1 (Saul Ñíguez, 26), Atlético progress 2-1 on aggregate
A dejected Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg
Image credit: Getty Images
Leicester City’s Champions League dream is over after going down to a 2-1 defeat on aggregate to Atletico Madrid following a 1-1 draw at home.
The Foxes, who welcomed back skipper Wes Morgan to the side, trailed by a goal at the break after a fine header from Saul Ñíguez.
Diego Simeone, who started with Yannick Ferreira Carrasco ahead of Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres, saw his side have two strong penalty appeals with the Belgian brought down by Kasper Schmeichel and later nudged in the back by Marc Albrighton.
Craig Shakespeare brought on Ben Chilwell and Leonard Ulloa and the changes sparked them into life having struggling to get into the game in the first half.
Jamie Vardy equalised after Chilwell’s effort was blocked and despite an onslaught by the home side Simeone's side held on to book their place in Friday’s draw for the semi-finals.
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Leicester City's Jamie Vardy
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
Should Atletico have had two penalties? TV replays showed Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was clearly brought down by Kasper Schmeichel in the first half, which Leicester fans may feel is justice after the penalty decision that went against them in the first leg. The incident in the second half was more unclear with minimal contact between Marc Albrighton and Belgian Carrasco.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid): The Uruguayan showed he is arguably the best in world football by limiting Leicester to few chances in the first period before surviving the second-half onslaught. His battle with Jamie Vardy was brilliant to watch and he was backed up well by his Atleti team-mates.
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Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in action with Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel 6, Simpson 5, Benalouane 4, Morgan 5, Fuchs 5, Mahrez 5, Ndidi 5, Drinkwater 5, Albrighton 6, Okazaki 5, Vardy 8. Subs: Chilwell 7, Ulloa 5, Amartey 5.
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak 6, Juanfran 6, Godin 8, Savic 6, Luis 7, Gimenez 6, Gabi 5, Koke 5, Saul 8, Carrasco 7, Griezmann 7. Subs: Hernandez 6, Torres 5, Correa 5.
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak 6, Juanfran 6, Godin 8, Savic 6, Luis 7, Gimenez 6, Gabi 5, Koke 5, Saul 8, Carrasco 7, Griezmann 7. Subs: Hernandez 6, Torres 5, Correa 5.
KEY MOMENTS:
23’ - CHANCE! Mahrez feeds Vardy on the wing, he eventually pulls the ball back for Okazaki who under pressure from Godin stabs his effort wide of the goal.
26’ – Leicester 0-1 Atletico Madrid: GOAL! Luis with a brilliant cross to the far post for the unmarked Saul who heads the ball into the bottom corner past Schmeichel to make it 1-0.
50’ - PENALTY SHOUT: Griezmann does brilliantly to go past three players, squares the ball to Carrasco who is nudged in the back by Albrighton but he gets away with it.
51’ - GOOD EFFORT: Vardy flicks on the ball to Chilwell who fires in a dipping volley which flies over the bar, decent effort from the youngster.
61’ - GOAL! Leicester 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Vardy has equalised! Albrighton's cross went over the striker's header, Chilwell's effort was deflected and the ball fell to the England man on the half volley and he lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
67'- GREAT CHANCE! A long ball finds Vardy in space 12 yards out but he scuffs a shot and it is blocked by Savic.
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in action with Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
- Atletico Madrid have reached the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in the last four seasons.
- Only Edinson Cavani (4) and Robert Lewandowski (4) have scored more away goals than Saúl Ñíguez (3) in the Champions League this season.
- Saul’s goal was the 100th Atletico Madrid had scored in the Champions League, in their 68th match in the competition.
- Filipe Luis has provided back-to-back assists in all competitions for Atletico for the first time since October 2013.
- Jamie Vardy is the first English player to score in a Champions League quarter-final since Frank Lampard in 2012.
- Both of Vardy's Champions League goals have come in the knockout stage of the competition.
- The Foxes had 16 shots in the 2nd half of this match, while Atletico had one.
- Leicester exit the Champions League unbeaten at home in their first campaign (W4 D1).
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