Leicester City 2 Fleetwood Town 0: VAR history made as offside decision overturned for Kelechi Iheanacho goal
Anyone who came here expecting a dramatic FA Cup night in the traditional sense will have gone home disappointed as Leicester eased through what turned out to be a rather tepid third-round replay.
The match did, however, provide English football with its first goal awarded on the say-so of a Video Assistant Referee after Kelechi Iheanacho’s second of the match was given by virtue of an overruled offside decision.
The moment came in the 77th minute after Riyad Mahrez’s pass to the former Manchester City striker gave assistant referee Lee Betts a marginal call to which he responded by raising his flag.
But after a lengthy pause listening to the advice of VAR Mike Jones from a studio in London, match referee Jonathan Moss made the TV screen shape with his hands and signalled a goal, the remote judgement being that defender Nathan Pond’s trailing foot had just played Iheanacho onside.
Inevitably, the delay robbed the moment of spontaneous joy, leaving the players unsure how much to celebrate, the crowd more than a little confused and the Fleetwood manager, Uwe Rosler, complaining that such decisions should be left with the officials on the field for the sake of the game.
76' - Iheanacho goal disallowed ❌
78' - VAR correctly gives goal ⚽️
1-0 VAR ��
History made as Kelechi Iheanacho becomes the first player to be awarded a goal by VAR in British football! pic.twitter.com/KXsRbVdFou— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 16, 2018
“It was not the reason we lost the tie,” he said. “We lost because after they scored their first goal before half-time they had too much for us in the second half.
“But can they really say it was onside for the second goal or are they guessing? Even sometimes VAR is not 100 per cent clear.
“We will see in the future how it pans out but in general I say don’t complicate the game. The game is beautiful, let it be pure and also made by human errors of the referee. It makes the game.”
Claude Puel, the Leicester manager, who had voiced similar reservations ahead of the match on learning that VAR would be used, allowed himself a smile.
“I think it’s perfect now,” he joked, before admitting he still had mixed feelings. “But it meant that a good goal was correctly given,” he added.
Otherwise it had been a match too often lacking in passion in which Fleetwood, perhaps unlucky not to have sprung a shock when the sides drew 0-0 at their Highbury ground 10 days ago, gave a good account of themselves in the first half, when Kyle Dempsey drew a fine, fingertip save from Leicester goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic in their best moment, but faded after going behind two minutes before the break.
Iheanacho, one half of a second-string Leicester attack alongside Islam Slimani that nonetheless cost £54 million, converted a chance set up by Slimani to score only his second goal for the club following a £25m move from Manchester City last summer that has yet to deliver a significant return.
That moment apart, though, a Leicester side showing eight changes from the weekend had been unimpressive, and it showed on Puel’s face in the technical area.
CLAUDE: “We tried to play in the first half, but it was too comfortable for them to defend. We needed to play forward and get behind them more, which we did much better in the second half.” #LeiFle
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 16, 2018
Mahrez, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in what may be seen as a statement of Puel's intention to keep him at Leicester, had a quiet first half and wasted his best opportunity with a free kick just outside the ‘D’.
Fleetwood offered little as an attacking threat in the second half, in which Jamie Vardy, injured for the original tie, was granted his wish with a 10-minute cameo against his old club.
By the time he appeared, Iheanacho, who initially seemed to have no quarrel that his second 'goal' had not counted, had played his part in history.
Vardy looking absolutely furious and disgusted
although he is, in fact, answering some mild questions in perfectly agreeable fashion.
Iheanacho says that communication from the officials to the players about the VAR was totally fine, that he did not know himself at the time whether he was onside or offside.
No doubt all of these issues will be well covered in the match report from Jon Culley, which will be here very shortly. From me, Alan Tyers, goodnight.
Full time: Leicester City 2 Fleetwood Town 0
VAR the winner! And Leicester. Well done to Fleetwood, they were on terms in the first half and it was hard lines that they conceded on 43 minutes. Result wasn't really in doubt after that. Vardy got a late run against his old club.
But the match will be remembered for the second goal, which was given offside. Ref Jon Moss called for VAR, the decision was overturned. It took one minute and seven seconds to come up with the correct answer. Iheanacho was credited with the goal, rightly, his second of the match.
Full-time: Leicester City 2️⃣-0️⃣ Fleetwood Town
Kelechi Iheanacho's double tees up a fourth round trip to Peterborough United ��#LeiFlepic.twitter.com/EhX81gW2e3— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 16, 2018
90 mins
Okazaki has tried to nutmeg Polger. Here is what Polger thought about that: a smack in the puss for you, my Premier League friend.
88 mins
That would have been the cherry on the top / the final cut for Fleetwood: Albrighton whips it in, there is Jamie Vardy, but Bolger clears.
87 mins
This is indeed correct. I am very impressed with the Fleetwood social media account. A mine of information.
85' | Burns finds space on the right edge of the area, and shoots at goal but it's saved by Jakupovic. (2-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
85 mins
Fleetwood have flagged and it's just a matter of whether Vardy can notch one now.
The VAR system worked, then. Linesman gave a very, very tight decision wrong. They overturned it after a brief look. Either you like it or you don't, the system, but it worked as well as you could expect it to there.
82 mins
Jamie Vardy is coming on. Mahrez the man to make way.
Shinji Okazaki replaces Kelechi Iheanacho, so there won't be a hat-trick for him.
Congratulations to Jon Moss for becoming a pub quiz answer
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) January 16, 2018
81 mins
All Leicester now, and indeed all Iheanacho, who has gone close to a hat-trick with a shot.
Iborra gets up from the corner and heads not far wide.
GOAL! VIA VAR! SCENES!
Another VAR! Oh our cup runneth over. This time it is to check an offside flag after Leicester have the ball in the net.
Really good run from Mahrez, who takes his time to slide the ball through for Iheanacho. He races onto the ball and applies the finish with a lovely little chip. But the linesman has flagged!
They're going to take a look at this on VAR...
... he is just onside! It is overturned! That's it! A little moment of history: the decision is overturned and the goal is awarded.
Leicester 2 Fleetwood 0 (Iheanacho 77)
72 mins
Dempsey is booked.
Bobby Grant replaces Markus Schwabl.
71 mins
A VAR HAS HAPPENED!!!!!
The ball is lofted into the Fleetwood box. Leicester want a penalty because they think Pond is fouling Iborra
"No penalty" is the initial verdict from Referee Moss.
There is not enough evidence of a "clear and obvious" error so the decision of "no penalty" stands.
Vaaaaaar, me hearties
61' | Leicester have the ball in the net - but it's ruled out. Ref checking with VAR - still no goal, good decision. (1-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
64 mins
Albrighton delivers a corner, Iborra heading not far over.
Double change for Fleetwood...
�� | #ftfc subs. Burns and Cole on, McAleny and Hiwula off. (1-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
Scarecrow tactics
Little by little @RobbieSavage8 is morphing into Worzel Gummidge. pic.twitter.com/WFcv1wbagx
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 16, 2018
61 mins
Leicester have the ball in the net, Iheanacho there just outside the six-yard box slotting it home from the pull-back, but it was just out.
56 mins
Ball is played into the Fleetwood box. Benalouane flails a leg, Pond has attempted a headed-clearance just a foot or so from the ground, and he gets an unpleasant whack in the head for his trouble. Tough customer, but he needs a moment.
54 mins
Slimani is getting the hook and is acting with a sort of exaggerated befuddlement, the sort of hamming that one sees in an amateur dramatic production when the stage direction says "looks shocked".
Marc Albrighton replaces him.
Shane O'Leary
writes: "'Sometimes you just need a bit more quality' muses a man who drifted through too many games like a curly-permed Hugh Grant"
50 mins
Iheanacho and Slimani link up very nicely. The former takes his time and chips the ball through. Slimani lets the ball drift across his body and hits a right-footed effort. Doesn't catch it right. Decent chance for what would presumably be the killer second goal.
47 mins
"Sometimes you just need a bit more quality," muses Steve McManaman as a decent Fleetwood move peters out thanks to poor passing.
46 mins
The second half is underway and the player looking to take it by the scruff of the neck is Gray. Bright and busy, but he runs into trouble.
Uwe enjoying a hot drink
Jamie Vardy has just pinged a 50-yarder into the top corner as the teams were coming out. Respectful, muted celebration against his old club.
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) January 16, 2018
Over to the Fleetwood social media team
�� | Half-time. @LCFC 1-0 #ftfc. @CMcAleny and @_kyledempsey have gone close for Town, who have been the better side. Iheanacho's late goal the difference so far. pic.twitter.com/WL80gHbgtp
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
Half time: Leicester City 1 Fleetwood Town 0
Leicester had more of the ball but it was in fact Fleetwood who enjoyed the superior chances in an admittedly rather drab half. One moment of real incision from the Premier League team was all it took for the lead. Shame. Can Fleetwood rally after half time?
44 mins
Adrien Silva gets the ball and is soon having his foot stamped on by Glendon. Sore one on a cold night, and a booking for the Fleetwood player.
GOAL! Leicester! It's Iheanacho!
Bit of a nothing ball pumped forard, but Iheanacho manages to knock it to Slimani, who plays an instant, accurate ball back. It's opened Fleetwood up, Iheanacho slots it calmly away and that's the lead.
Finally Fleetwood are bested, after an entire match and 43 minutes.
40 mins
Uwe Rosler having a word with Cole on the bench. Bit wet of Rosler not to play his actual best player. Came up with some rot about having to face Blackburn at the weekend and managing his resources. It's the FA Cup, sir! The FA Cup.
36 mins
Best moment of the match, a really nice little move from Fleetwood as Hiwula-Mayifuila plays a cute little lay-off for the onrushing Dempsey who cracks a sweet shot at goal. Tipped over! Possibly a bit belt-and-braces from the Leicester keeper, I think that would have most likely gone over. But he could hardly take that risk.
Corner.
38' | Corner played short to Jones, but his shot is blocked - before McAleny heads Glendon's cross wide. Come on, lads! (0-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
33 mins
Hiwula-Mayifuila down the right. Benalouane with a nasty lunge. Ref plays advantage but it doesn't come to a lot. Then booked.
30 mins
Mahrez is fouled a yard or two outside the box and the player himself will be the one to take the kick. This is CLOSE! Oof, that took a coat of paint off on the way past the upright.
27 mins
Shot! McAleny with a break, decent run this. He curls a shot at goal that is palmed away by Jakupovic, who maybe makes a bit of a meal of it.
25 mins
McAleny has a shot from distance but that is easy for Jakupovic.
Mahrez plays it in. Pond heads behind for a corner. perhaps overcautious, he had a bit of time there.
20 mins
Claims, but wafer-thin ones.
20' | Cries for a penalty for #ftfc as Bell and Amartey collide in the penalty area. Not given. (0-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
19 mins
Iheanacho is booked for a foul as he brushes past McAleny, who went down as quickly, cheaply and theatrically as he possibly could. Premier League quality tumble.
16 mins
Pond is there to clear as a cross comes in from the left.
12 mins
Amartey has done well to get clear down the right, but very poorly to cross the ball straight at the keeper. Neal barely has to move.
11 mins
LCFC camped in the FTFC final third, playing header-tennis, but it's all hands to the pump for the lower league side and eventually they manage to clear.
8 mins
Still, they have a freekick. Big Bolger up from centre half. The ball sails over everyone.
7 mins
Sorry, I rather drifted off there. It is a quiet start to proceedings. Fleetwood are playing quite nicely but a long way from goal.
7' | Dempsey looking sharp, a neat little pass to McAleny who is fouled. Free-kick to be played in... (0-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
4 mins
Fever reducer.
I’m not saying Cup replay fever hasn’t hit Leicester, but.... pic.twitter.com/3YQPOV67O5
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) January 16, 2018
3 mins
A lot of LCFC fans have given this one a swerve.
3' | Decent start from #ftfc, and a super start from the #codarmy. Singing their hearts out - the only noise in the ground. (0-0)
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
2 mins
But it is the hosts who are nearly in right away! Mahrez with a good ball to free Iheanacho. Fleetwood are lucky that he makes a horlicks of the pass, because the defence was very stretched there.
1 mins
Fleetwood Town kick off.
Oh, VAR is available
I should say. Hope we get to use it.
Leicester: Jakupovic, Amartey, Dragovic, Benalouane, Fuchs, Mahrez, Adrien Silva, Iborra, Gray, Iheanacho, Slimani. Subs: Vardy, Albrighton, Hamer, Maguire, Okazaki, Ndidi, Barnes.
Fleetwood Town: Neal, Jones, Bolger, Pond, Bell, Glendon, Schwabl, Dempsey, Hiwula, McAleny, Hunter. Subs: Coyle, Burns, Grant, Cairns, Sowerby, Cargill, Cole.
Referee: Jonathan Moss (County Durham)
Some seats still available
But here's how we expect the teams to line up
Shane is right on all counts
Not least "come on Fleetwood." What a result this would be for them.
The excellent Shane O'Leary writes
Evening Alan,
I understand that the Huth 'foot problem' is that it's usually up the jacksie of an opposing player.
Come on Fleetwood!
Nathan Pond
seems like an excellent fellow. He used to train with Vardy "he is always very aggressive." Has he ever been tempted to leave Fleetwood? "Nobody's ever wanted me!"
I bet that is not true. Pond, the skipper, has played 460 times for Fleetwood. I hope he can help them to another clean sheet today.
If you think otherwise, bet on Leicester to beat Fleetwood at 28/1 with Corals if you are a new customer.
Robert Savage's lid
Peterborough manager Grant McCann has popped along to see the team his lads will be facing in the fourth round. Owen Hargreaves and Robbie Savage chat to him.
Uwe Rosler explains why Devante Cole is on the bench
"I am happy what I have in the moment. I can hold what I have. I have to think about Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, we have had 7 games in 22 days."
Uwe has left his top scorer out of the XI
And here are Fleetwood
�� | The teams are in! Here's how #ftfc line up for tonight's @EmiratesFACup fixture at @LCFC... pic.twitter.com/LcyGVTarPo
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018
Rumours
40 years ago today, Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' spent a thirty-first and final week at #1 on the Billboard 200.
— chart flashbacks (@chartflashback) January 14, 2018
Leicester City team
Tonight's starting XI: Jakupović, Amartey, Dragović, Benalouane, Fuchs, Iborra, Silva, Mahrez (c), Gray, Iheanacho, Slimani.
Subs: Hamer, Maguire, Ndidi, Albrighton, Barnes, Okazaki, Vardy. #LeiFlepic.twitter.com/gBEpbyVBHv— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 16, 2018
Shame, Vardy only on the bench
Today’s Leicester v Fleetwood team sheet pic.twitter.com/KBltr8X5mf
— Rosie Swarbrick (@rosieswarb) January 16, 2018
Preview
"There’s been a great reaction throughout the town."
Journalist Rosie Swarbrick gives us her take on #LeiFle �� https://t.co/TTkWLre8Dupic.twitter.com/rOzZ1bIxA2— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 16, 2018
Rosie (not pictured)
Good evening
Tyers here, FA Cup third round replay action coming up. Will Jamie Vardy face his former team?
Defender Robert Huth could make his first Leicester appearance of the season in the FA Cup third-round replay against Fleetwood on Tuesday.
The German centre-back has been sidelined since the summer after ankle surgery and then the recurrence of a foot problem, but Ben Chilwell is banned.
Jamie Vardy is fit after missing the first tie against his former club with a groin problem and Matty James is also available, despite hobbling off at Chelsea on Saturday. Danny Simpson and Wes Morgan (both hamstring) are still out.
Provisional squad: Schmeichel, Hamer, Jakupovic, Maguire, Huth, Fuchs, Benalouane, Dragovic, James, King, Albrighton, Amartey, Gray, Silva, Ndidi, Mahrez, Iborra, Choudhury, Musa, Vardy, Slimani, Okazaki, Ulloa, Iheanacho.
And here is a lovely story by Chris Bascombe about Fleetwood's Markus Schwabl
When Fleetwood Town’s German midfielder Markus Schwabl was asked to join the 'Cod Army' he knew so little of the club he rushed to the internet to study its history.
Should he and his team mates win at Leicester City in Tuesday’s FA Cup replay he will be enshrining his place in it.
Midfielder Schwabl, once of 1860 Munich, was convinced to make the move by compatriot Uwe Rosler. Fleetwood manager Rosler was a colleague of Schwabl’s father, ex-West German international Manfred, at Nurnberg in the early 90s.
�� | The lads have arrived at the King Power! pic.twitter.com/PCtxEOPG0w
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 16, 2018