Walsall 0-1 Leicester: Kelechi Iheanacho’s deflected strike breaks hosts resistance

Kelechi Iheanacho’s fortuitous second-half strike broke the resistance of League Two Walsall and despatched Leicester into the FA Cup fifth spherical.

It was the Nigeria worldwide’s seventeenth objective in 23 FA Cup appearances – essentially the most by any participant since Iheanacho made his debut within the competitors in 2016.

Walsall, one of many kind sides in League Two, had defended admirably towards the 2021 Cup winners, cheered on by a capability crowd at a sold-out Bescot Stadium.

Evans made a sequence of good saves whereas Tielemans struck the publish along with his spot-kick moments after half-time, after Patson Daka was fouled by Isaac Hutchinson.

Some extent-blank cease from Evans denied Iheanacho a second within the ultimate 10 minutes and saved an entertaining tie alive till the end, however Leicester held agency for a much-needed Cup win amid their struggles within the Premier League.

Cup specialist ends Walsall’s resistance

On paper this tie had the makings of an FA Cup upset – a Premier League crew with no league win in 5 video games, visiting an in-form fourth-tier aspect who had received 9 of their final 12 video games in a charged-up ambiance.

Walsall made the sport a contest from the opening seconds by charging out of the blocks to shut down the Leicester defenders. At the top their followers applauded the gamers from the sector regardless of the scoreline.

Leicester, whose crew included James Maddison for his first begin for the reason that World Cup and a debut off the bench for £17m signing Victor Kristiansen, had been made to work.

For greater than an hour it seemed as if wastefulness within the first half, from Daka specifically, and Tielemans’ miss would price Leicester regardless of domination of the ball.

When wanted, Walsall’s defenders had thrown themselves to dam photographs whereas Evans’ double save from Tielemans and Daka was notably spectacular.

Unfortunately for the Saddlers, it was a type of blocks which proved essential – Comley a bit of too sluggish to shut down substitute Iheanacho.

It resulted within the Foxes’ second successive 1-0 win towards League Two opposition within the FA Cup this season.

Iheanacho, a person quick changing into an FA Cup specialist, has scored the winner on each events.