Wasteful Leicester’s bad form continues as they suffer surprise defeat at Legia Warsaw in Europa League

Leicester’s struggles continued as they were beaten 1-0 by Legia Warsaw in the Europa League.

Mahir Emreli’s strike was all that separated the two sides in Poland on a night where the Foxes were guilty of spurning a number of good chances.

Getty

The 35th-minute strike proved to be the winner

Getty

Leicester will feel they should have got something out of the match

Ayoze Perez failed to take advantage of some poor goalkeeping by Cezary Miszta as a corner from the right rebounded off the striker and back into Miszta’s hand.

Patson Daka volleyed wide on the stretch, while Perez scuffed the ball wide with his left peg just before half time.

Jannik Vestergaard had a header from point-blank range somehow kept out while Daka failed to get the ball out of his feet after controlling a looping pass.

James Maddison had a chance to get a point late on but it wasn’t to be. Brendan Rodgers’ side have won just one of their last six matches.

Getty

The pressure on Rodgers is growing

Despite boss Brendan Rodgers making six changes from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Burnley Leicester were lethargic for long spells of the first half.

Legia made a fast start and Daniel Amartey was forced into a hurried early block on Mattias Johansson before the hosts escaped after 10 minutes.

Cezary Miszta missed Kieran Dewsbury-Hall’s corner but Ayoze Perez could only turn the ball back to the goalkeeper.

Patson Daka – starting after Kelechi Iheanacho was barred from entering Poland on Wednesday due to a problem with his travel documents – struggled to make an impact as the Foxes’ slow build-up hampered their efforts.

Getty

On another night Daka could have had two or three goals

But a cagey game burst to life when the hosts grabbed the winner after 31 minutes.

The Foxes continued to struggle without injured first-choice centre-backs Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana and it was another poor defensive showing which allowed Legia to score.

Amartey was bullied off the ball too easily by Emreli and the striker drilled a low 16-yard effort through Vestergaard’s legs and in off the post.

Leicester, who lost a 2-0 lead against Napoli to draw their opener 2-2 earlier this month, needed to up their tempo and they should have levelled 10 minutes later.

Getty

Leicester are bottom of their group after two matches

Youri Tielemans seized on a loose ball to find Daka and the striker’s touch inadvertently teed up Perez but, with just the goalkeeper to beat, he dragged a poor shot wide.

Knowing they had struggled, the Foxes started the second half well and Perez had a goal disallowed after Amartey’s foul three minutes in.

Kasper Schmeichel claimed Emreli’s weak angled effort but the Foxes continued to ask questions and Vestergaard should have levelled with 24 minutes left.

The defender met Dewsbury-Hall’s corner and his miscued header bounced off his shoulder, although Miszta still needed to make a smart save.

Boss Rodgers was forced to call for reinforcements with Harvey Barnes and James Maddison replacing Dewsbury-Hall and Perez.

Maddison quickly picked out Daka but the striker failed to get a clean connection and his shot dribbled wide, although it hinted at a late Leicester fightback.

It never came though and, after Maddison saw a shot cleared, Schmeichel stopped Lirim Kastrati from striking late when the winger cut inside, only for the goalkeeper to turn his shot onto the post.

Tomas Pekhart also should have finished the Foxes off when he blazed over after being found by Kastrati on the break.

Source link

The post Wasteful Leicester’s bad form continues as they suffer surprise defeat at Legia Warsaw in Europa League appeared first on Today Nigeria News.

source https://todaynigerianews.com/wasteful-leicesters-bad-form-continues-as-they-suffer-surprise-defeat-at-legia-warsaw-in-europa-league/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wasteful-leicesters-bad-form-continues-as-they-suffer-surprise-defeat-at-legia-warsaw-in-europa-league