Semi-Final upset… Report by Simon Mack

Aston Villa 2 Leicester City 1 (3-2 on aggregate)

Carabao Cup Semi Final

28^th January 2020 7:45pm

Leicester City failed to reach Wembley at the final hurdle as Mahmoud Hassan’s 93^rd minute winner sent Aston Villa into the final.

Brendan Rodgers picked a strong starting eleven with Kelechi Iheanacho in attack with the not quite fully fit Jamie Vardy waiting in the wings on the bench and it was the foxes that set a blistering pace in the early exchanges and James Maddison was only denied an opener by a stunning save from Ørjan Nyland between the villa posts.

Despite city’s dominance it was the villans who broke the deadlock counter attacking from another city forward foray some superb play from Jack Grealish on the edge of the foxes box played in wing back Matt Targett who rifled the ball across the goal and into the far corner past a disappointed Kaspert Schmeichel who felt he should have got something on the strike.

As the game re commenced it was the foxes once again who were setting the tone and villa seemed to withdraw to a more defensive stance. Ricardo went close with a sliced volley wide and city had what seemed to be an obvious hand ball penalty shout against Marvelous Nakamba turned down despite the incident being reviewed by VAR.

Moments later a stupendous strike by Youri Tielemens from 25 yards that swerved and dipped was somehow turned onto the bar by an on fire Nyland in between the home sticks. The first half had also seen Perez go close and Maddison have other opportunities that he either sent wide or were turned away by the outstanding Nyland. It felt like the foxes had thrown the kitchen sink at the villa goal and the stats confirmed Leicester’s dominance in every single area of play yet somehow at half time Aston Villa went in with the lead.

It wasn’t long into the second period before Jamie Vardy was introduced to the match in an attempt to force the equaliser as Ayonze Perez made way for the city front man and whilst initially Vardy’s impact wasn’t having quite the impact Rodgers had hoped for it was villa debutant Mbwana Samatta that could have doubled the lead for the home side but he failed to make contact with a superb Jack Grealish pass.

With so many opportunities to get back into the game not working out for the foxes finally city drew level when Harvey Barnes broke toward the line on the edge of the villa box and played a firm ball across the face of goal. The low rapid cross was met at the back post by the ever threatening Kelechi Iheanacho and the Nigerian ensured he got his legs behind the cross and tucked the ball away to even the score line.

There is no extra time in the Carabao Cup until the final so as the last 15 minutes of the game played out whilst the foxes were once again setting the agenda there was a caginess about proceedings in fear of a late decisive goal. Ultimately that’s exactly what happened and it was Leicester City that were on the receiving end of a painful late late winner. Substitute  Ahmed Elmohamady picked up the ball mid-way into the foxes half and played a superb curling cross toward the city back post. With 93 of the 94 minutes already played there was fellow substitute Trézéguet hurtling in to smash the ball into the back of the net for an almost certain dagger through the city heart.

James Maddison was afforded an almost perfectly placed dead ball free kick 25 yards out right in front of goal but his strike hit the wall and referee Mike Dean immediately blew the final whistle and the foxes were out of time, luck and the competition.

On the night Leicester had enjoyed 63% of the possession, had 22 shots against 9 for villa, had made 525 passes opposed to 317 and a far superior pass accuracy to boot. In addition the earlier chances in the first half whilst admirably kept out by Ørjan Nyland on another night at least a couple would have found the back of the net. It was a night that just didn’t have the feel of a good night for Leicester and the penalty shout for hand ball not being given is still a mystery and probably always will be.

Foxes MOTM? James Maddison was genuinely unlucky not to have got at least one goal on the evening and was a constant threat to the hosts. In addition Wilfred Ndidi looked back somewhere near to his best and made some vital interceptions and played some neat passes to keep the foxes ticking. And whilst the media were singing the praises of the superb Nyland between the villa sticks for a foxes MOTM I’d opt for Harvey Barnes who not only provided the cross for the Leicester leveller but also worked tirelessly and positively all evening in the city cause.

It felt like lady luck abandoned the foxes this evening and whilst we all collectively kick or throw whatever is closest to hand in utter dejection I felt city did enough on the evening to earn at least a shoot-out but it just wasn’t meant to be.

You can watch the Match Highlights down below here…