Edozie debuts Iheanacho Late Penalty vs Man City

Kelechi Iheanacho was the hero as his late penalty earned a 1-0 win for Leicester against his former club Manchester City and secured a first Community Shield title for the Foxes since 1971, Completesports.com reports.

Iheanacho’s compatriot Wilfred Ndidi was also in action for Leicester and saw 90 minutes of football.

There was a senior team debut of English-born Nigerian left-winger, Samuel Ikechukwu Edozie,  for City.

Edozie was impressive in City’s pre-season, enough to get Guardiola’s nod again for a starting role in the Community Shield clash versus Leicester.

The 18-year-old has represented England at U-18 level, and is eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level if he so desires.

Samuel Edozie

Also, new City record signing Jack Grealish made his debut after coming on in the second half.

City went close to breaking the deadlock inside seven minutes when Ilkay Gundogan produced a sparkling free-kick effort Kasper Schmeichel scrambled across his line quickly to palm the ball out for a corner.

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Algerian star Riyad Mahrez went close for City as he raced away on the counter after Benjamin Mendy’s through ball, but Caglar Soyuncu got back well to block his shot.

A glorious opportunity came and went for City youngster Edozie after his snatched shot flew harmlessly wide.

The best chance of the first half, however, would fall to Jamie Vardy.
Harvey Barnes picked out the frontman unmarked at the far post who then dragged ball slightly behind him goalward before the diving Zack Steffen deflected the ball onto the post.

Mahrez squandered an opportunity to give City the lead after the break as he was set free with a three-yard headstart, but he was forced wider by the retreating Ndidi and Ricardo Pereira and could only blaze his striker over the bar.

Clear-cut chances became increasingly infrequent as the fitness levels of each side were tested. With 10 minutes remaining, the familiar sight of a penalty shoot-out at Wembley was looming on the horizon.

The game was eventually settled in regular time as Leicester were awarded a penalty when Nathan Ake felled Iheanacho inside the area.

Iheanacho assumed the penalty-taking responsibilities with Vardy already subbed and slotted his strike into the top corner on 89 minutes despite Steffen getting a hand to the ball.

That would prove to be the decisive action of the match as Leicester held on to lift the Community Shield at Wembley.

By James Agberebi

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