Kelechi Iheanacho scored two goals and provided an assist as Leicester City thrashed Sporting Braga 4-0 in Group G of the Europa League on Thursday, Completesports.com reports.
Iheanacho has now scored three goals and provided three assists in this season’s Europa League.
The Super Eagles star opened scoring for the Foxes on 21 minutes before doubling their lead on 48 minutes.
He then turned provider by setting up Dennis Praet for Leicester’s third in the 67th minute.
Also Read: Eagles’ Camp Opens In Benin Monday; Leone Stars To Arrive On Wednesday
With 12 minutes left in the game Leicester went 4-0 ahead thanks to James Maddison.
Iheanacho was later replaced by Ayoze Perez in the 72nd minute.
Leicester are now on nine points after three games and top the group while Braga are second on six points.
In Group L, Kevin Akpoguma saw action for Hoffenheim who outclassed visiting Slovan Liberec 5-0.
Akpoguma was later withdrawn after playing for 61 minutes.
The win on Thursday was Hoffenheim’s third which place them top in the group on nine points.
And in the Netherlands, Chidera Ejuke could not help CSKA Moscow lose 3-1 to Feyenoord in Group K.
Ejuke made way with 14 minutes left in the game which means they are now bottom without a win and on two points.
Other fixtures saw Arsenal come from behind to beat Leke James’ Molde 4-1, Lille thrashed AC Milan 3-0 at the San Siro, PAOK spanked PSV 4-1 and Sparta Prague defeated Celtic 4-1.
By James Agberebi
16 Comments
keep disquieting the doubts Rodgers has about you! the lewandoski of Nigeria
Kelechi has only played 6 games in all competitions for Leicester so far this season and has been directly involved in 6 goals. 3 goals 3 assists. Top class finisher he is and he seems to have improved a lot on his first touch and hold up play. Iheanacho’s creativity and goal threat is absolutely vital for us at this point in time. Hopefully he brings that form to the SuperEagles in the next qualifiers. Iheanacho is the type of striker that will bury 2 out every 3 chances that comes his way. Absolutely clinical. Nigeria’s best attacking duo going forward should be Osimhen and Iheanacho. We need to see how both can compliment each other starting from the game against Sierra Leone next week.
Nice one @ Ayphillydgreat. Those two, Nacho and Osimene are the confirmed SE hatchet men Then Dessers and Dennis. Just my opinion.
Absolutely @Glory I really like Dennis a lot. He reminds me of Siasia in the glory days. His improvisation and technical abilities sometimes looks like a touch of genius. Going by the caliber of league’s Serie A and Premier league. Osimhen and Iheanacho holds the top of the pecking order in our attacking position. Dessers needs to be better than Onuachu at club level to maintain a spot in these team. He’s in the plans of the coach so his time will surely come.
Odogwu!!!!! Keep shining Mazi Iheanacho!
Can the Super Eagles now say they have two very good strikers (osimhen and iheanacho)? I think so. What say you?
Actually, we have 3 very good strikers if you include Junior Ajayi. You cannot be better than iheanacho, dessers and Onuachu and still not be considered as one of the best.
I really applaud kelechi iheanacho’s attitude to this game and his career. He has really shown how to rise above adversity. He was criticized when he joined Leicester for not scoring goals regularly, for not gelling with the team. Last season they were talks about him going on loan, people keep saying he isnt a striker, that he is an attacking mf, he should play behind a striker (including myself) etc. But he has shown he is a complete player with his performances. He scores and creates assists regularly and whether Rogers like it or not he is an integral part of his team and an asset and he should be given the respect he deserves. Some players who were hyped on being the next big thing in Nigeria soccer,who are of the same age group of kelechi are no where to be found. He lost his place to his younger counterpart but with hardwork and determination he has bounced back into reckoning. I wish him all the best. He has really improved his game.
desser is okay, but Dennis? the guy is not an ideal striker of today’s kind of football. he will wear out against teams in good league. he doesn’t have that stubbornness, that grit, that unique flair mixed with strength that makes top striker consistent. he has quality, no doubt but as a no.9, no way.
unlike Dennis, desser has these combinations. it is just unfortunate that he’s getting benched by a striker super eagles is trying to drop, not only that but in the Belgium league. it would have been a nice thing if desser had kept his form he produced at Netherlands. we’ve lost Tammy Abraham who would have certainly brought the qualities we need that differs from that of osimhen and Iheanacho.
if we want a striker to join the caliber of osimhen and Iheanacho then let’s hope terem moffi scores week in week out. he has the same attributes as kayode, which is pace and the ability to beat the last defender. if this guy improves in form and continues getting regular play then he will make super eagles attacking line very dynamic. so, we will have three strikers playing at top leagues and getting regular playing time.
there’s no better time to be a super eagles fan!
We seemed to be missing a point here when we talk about SE,our captain has been clubless for a while now yet GR keeps inviting him,I thought invitation is strictly on merit and club form or has GR lost his status quo?
We seemed to be missing a point here when we talk about SE,our captain has been clubless for a while now yet GR keeps inviting him,I thought invitation is strictly on merit and club form or has GR lost his status quo?or politics has created in
I am one of the guys who is of the opinion that if Kelechi want to change his club then it must be to a club that plays with two strikers. With the exception of Arsenal, Bayern, Everton, and few others not many clubs plays that of type formation again. About two years ago, I was so furious with his performance, but Rodgers has really work on him. His first touch has improve, his hold up play is getting better and his pace is getting better by the day. Adding all these to his already innate quality: his ability to dribble, his creative accurate pass, his goal instinct will only made him get better. I can’t wait to see his partnership with Osimhen.
I think like most, the suggestion of two frontment is really tasty. GR should be brave and use this system against Sierra Leone. Trying a combo of osihmen-Iheanacho, Osihmen-Dennis (they played together during u23 qualifiers against libya), Iheanacho-Dennis, Onuachu-Dennis, Onuachu-Iheanacho and sometimes when we want to throw the sink at a team we try even Osihmen-Onuachu. With these combo the coach will know the best combo to use for certain games depending on opposition. Dennis is very good at pressing the defense kinda like Osihmen, playing him alongside any forward will cause major problem to opposition defenses. In my opinion a progressive line up where we will dominate Sierra Leone will be
okay (any keeper will do here)
Aina-Ekong-Balogun-Sanusi
Samu-Etebo-Iwobi-Ejuke
Iheanacho-Osihmen
My reasoning:
Akpaguma starting ahead of Ekong isn’t ideal yet as he may struggle against African opposition as he is new to the African terrain but after winning the 1st leg, he can be paired with Balogun for the 2nd leg.
Playing Etebo and Iwobi in the midfield will give 9ja control and creativity aplenty. I don’t think we need 2 holding midfielders against Sierra Leone, Etebo should do all the dirty job in the midfield while Iwobi does his thing where he comes collects the ball from Etebo and pushes us forward. We have enough defenders to neutralize whatever threat the lonestars can throw. Moreover, Sanusi and Aina can double as midfielders in a 352 formation as need be.
Ejuke and Samu on the wings is mouth watering (in case Ejuke doesn’t perform let’s not be quick to call for his drop as he himself is still new to the team). Ejuke and Samu should constantly be switching wings to give the rightbacks and leftbacks of Sierra Leone different looks.
The attack will speaks for itself. I will bring in Dennis for Iheanacho and not play him on the wing, I will pair him straight up with Osimen, I won’t even mind if Dennis starts ahead of Iheanacho and bring in iheanacho in the 2nd half.
This is a fluid 442 can can morph to 352. We will dominate them. We should press them all day every day, and deny them the ball, this way Etebo won’t have to work to hard as we will have possession of the ball 60-70% of the time. Just my take.
@ proudly 9ja, thanks bro, I ve said this before, and I would be saying it again, I think 4 4 2 would our best bet for now, I think 4 4 2 would bring the best out from our players. Our strikers are struggling with 4 3 3 , we should try 4 4 2 against Sierra Leone and see how it goes.
It’s left for our coach to decide. I wish he can hear and try some formations as suggested @ Sunnyb. He likes one man upfront. So there’s nothing we can do only to wish him and our team all d best.
God bless Naija
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