Jamie Vardy scores injury-time equaliser to fire Leicester to Europa League last 32
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ByEurosport
Updated 26/11/2020 at 20:55 GMT
Europa League Group G, Estadio Municipal de Braga: Braga 3 (Musrati 4, Paulinho 24, Fransergio 90) Leicester 3 (Barnes 9, Thomas 79, Vardy 90+5)
Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring for Leicester
Image credit: Getty Images
Jamie Vardy scored a 95th-minute equaliser to fire Leicester into the last 32 of the Europa League after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Braga.
It was the home side that started fastest, as Al Musrati's driving effort from the edge of the box was simply unstoppable as it flew into the bottom corner of the net.
But Leicester responded quickly through Harvey Barnes, who was slipped in by Kelechi Iheanacho. The young English forward rifling the ball past the near post of Matheus who could do very little to stop it.
Braga continued to look dangerous on the attack and were rewarded with a second goal after some neat one-touch football on the edge of the Leicester box. Ricardo Horta was threaded in and rounded Kasper Schmeichel, cutting the ball back to Paulinho for a simple tap in.
Rodgers made a host of changes in the second half, and it was James Maddison who came on to provide the assist for Luke Thomas to score his first senior goal for the Foxes.
In the dying moments of the game, however, substitute Fransergio looked like he had sealed victory for the home side when he coolly slotted past Schmeichel, but Vardy had other ideas as he scored deep into added time to take the Foxes through to the last 32.
Next up for Leicester City is a home fixture against struggling Fulham in the Premier League while Braga return to action in the Primeira Liga and take on Farense.
Talking Point - Rodgers' substitutes the difference
In the first half Leicester were struggling to break down Braga as they failed to create clear cut chances. But the second half introduction of Maddison and Vardy proved key in turning the tide in this tough away fixture.
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Paulinho celebrates scoring for Braga against Leicester
Image credit: Getty Images
Player Ratings:
Sporting Braga: Matheus 6, Ricardo Esgaio 6, Bruno Viana 6, Tormena 6, Sequeira 6, Ricardo Horta 6, Castro 6, Al Musrati 6, Medeiros 6, Galeno 6, Paulinho 7
Subs: Fransergio 7, Horta N/A, Raul Silva N/A, Guimaraes N/A
Leicester: Schmeichel 8, Justin 7, Evans 7, Fuchs 6, Albrighton 6, Praet 5, Choudhury 6, Thomas 7, Ünder 6, Barnes 7, Iheanacho 6
Subs Tielemas 6, Fofana 6, Perez 6, Maddison 7, Vardy 9
Man of the match:
It has to go to Vardy. From the moment he came on he looked dangerous. Time and again he proves his quality for this Foxes side at decisive moments in matches.
Key Events:
- 4' GOAL!!! Driven in from distance by Masrati. What a start for the home side with their first real chance
- 9' GOAL! There's the equaliser by Barnes for Leicester. His powerful shot beat the keeper at his near post. But make not mistake it wasn't an easy chance to finish. It's game on!
- 24' GOAL!!! A wonderfully worked Braga goal. Paulinho puts the home side ahead again. Some neat one touch passing on the outside of the box before Horta rounds Schmeichel and cuts it back to Paulinho who slots the ball home
- 79' GOAL! Luke Thomas gets his first senior goal for the club. Maddison turns the Braga defender inside out and smashes it across the box and Thomas puts his foot on the end of it. 2-2
- 90' GOAL! In the dying moments of the game Braga grab what looks like a winner through Fransergio cool finish
- 90'+4 GOAL! Vardy looks to have done it for the Foxes! He grabs the equaliser!
Key Stats:
- Leicester’s only previous away game against Portuguese opposition saw them lose 0-5 to Porto in the UEFA Champions League in December 2016. Cautious.
- Luke Thomas (19y & 169d) has become Leicester City’s youngest ever goalscorer in major European competition. Fox
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