Kelechi Iheanacho scored and had two assists in Leicester City’s 3-0 win against Zorya, in Group G of the Europa League played on Thursday, Completesports.com reports.
Iheanacho set up James Maddison for the first goal in the 29th minute before assisting Harvey Barnes for the second goal in the 45th minute.
In the 67th minute he scored to make it 3-0 to Leicester before he was replaced by Ayoze Perez in the 72nd minute.
In Spain in Group I, Samuel Chukwueze provided the assist for Villarreal’s opening goal in their 5-3 win against Sivasspor.
Chukwueze provided the assist for Villarreal’s opener scored by Takefusa Kubo in the 13th minute.
Olanrewaju Kayode was on target for Sivasspor after scoring in the 33rd minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
He was later replaced with eight minutes remaining in the game.
Group L game between Hoffenheim amd Crvena Zvezda saw the German club win 2-0.
In action for Hoffenheim was Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma who saw 90 minutes of action.
And Chidera Ejuke helped CSKA Moscow hold Wolfsberger to a 1-1 draw away in Group K.
Ejuke was brought on in the 46th minute of the encounter and was very impressive with 13 take-ons attempted with 11 of the take-ons completed.
Other Europa League games saw Tottenham Hotspur beat LASK 3-0, AC Milan defeated Celtic 3-1, Maccabi Tel Aviv pipped Qatabag 1-0 and Lille hammer Sparta Prague 4-1.
By James Agberebi
20 Comments
Super Eagles players at their best…
Very correct, and to have 8 Super Eagles players play in the Europa league today, with 7 of those players playing in the current squad speaks volume and Shows clearly our current squad is truly on merit.
Aribo,Balogun,Osimhen,Kelechi,Chukwueze,Akpoguma,Ejuke are in current squad while Kayode not in the current squad.
Others like Ndidi and Azeez misssed out because of injuries. So would have been like 10 SE players just on Europa league alone. Very soon it will be 10 current squad members on Champions league night. Well done guys, keep shining.
I look forward to that day when 10 current SE squad members will be playing the the r16 of the UCL. That is when I will start dreaming of a place in the semis of the world cup.
Yes, I suppose Kelechi has done enough for both club and country to prove he is coming back to his best form and so deserves by merit to be the 2nd striker to Victor. With a Man of match performance in today’s Europa league match, he is set for another call up to SE. And with Onuachu, Deserers not convincing performance and bench role respectively while Simmy and Sadiqu are yet to gets Rohr’s attention, then the coast is clear for Kelechi to win the long battle for Super Eagles 2nd striker. Congratulations Kelechi, keep shining.
Kelechi impressive throughout. Two assists and a goal with his weaker right foot (what a shot, haven’t seen him score with his right before). Definitely man of the march and yes, the doors of the SUPER EAGLES are wide open and they welcome you back to your rightful PLACE. Now that Vardy is down continue with these types of performance so the coach will play you more even when vardy is fit.
Chukwueze also had a good game today, he had about two assists (though one was a follow-up to his deflected shot) but a good game all the same.
Haven’t seen rangers game but heard balogun was at it again being a wall to the opponents attack.
Also, I heard ejuke was mesmerizing when he came on for cska .
The only sad report so far was Napoli’s loss to Az at home!!!!!
Osimhen started but could do nothing to save his team from defeat. What can I say, you win some , you lose some.
Iheanacho was arguably the star performer, with his persistence integral to Leicester’s opener. He also displayed brilliant skill for the second, then dispatched his goal with pinpoint accuracy. He might be coming of age at the right time. He’s got experience and pedigree all he needs is consistency and I think he has shown consistency over the last two seasons. A combo with Osimhen in the SuperEagles attack will be mouth watering. #FLY LIKE AN EAGLE INTO THE FUTURE#
Nice one @ Ayphillydgreat, Nacho ala Osimene were not declared golden ball winners at U -17 by way of some computer error you know. These two are pure talents. I m really so happy Nacho’s latent talent is now having games time to truly express itself. But sadly I feel a bit low for an Isaac Success just wasting away.
Nice one from Nacho today. Good goal and a nice couple of assists. Nacho’s hold up play continues to impress. He excelled at holding the ball and finding willing runners with passes.
Samu also did well today. Emery used him on the left flank, and he seems to be more comfortable there than on the right. Three assists from Samu is evidence of just how comfortable he is playing from the left.
Good one from Kayode also. Love the way he took his goal. Used his pace to trouble the Villareal defense.
Thanks Pompei for your succinct yet meaty summary.
Nacho man has and will continue to be a great player irrespective of the fact he hasn’t been getting enough minutes at club level. I call him the precision master. It’s quite frustrating to see such talent on the bench at Leicester, not for lack of talent but the managers own idea of players he likes. But Glory to God ALMIGHTY, Rodgers may have started having a rethink. Big thumbs up to you all deserving SE PLAYERS. You ever a source of joy to all of us SE fans as well as every nigerian. JEHOVAH GOD BLESS and PROTECT YOU ALL.
iheanacho partnering osimhen with iwobi dictating the attack (no10) behind them could cripple a German defense!!
as for Isaac success, I really pray he gets his career back on track…
come to think of it – who is really the face of this new, young and exciting squad. I go for ndidi as our best player currently!
what iwobi need is to prove himself this weekend
@ Kinston, I d loved to honestly see those three play together. Nacho on a good day scores goals that provokes a bust of laughter.
who would eberechi eze bench in this team!
Ebere eze will find it difficult making SE squad
If he agree to wear green and white..
Iheanacho: what else can he do?
Super Eagles Support Striker Kelechi Iheanacho continues to show that he is one not to be overlooked after his all-round scintillating centre forward play in the Europa league produced 1 goal and 2 assists last night.
But it could all have been so different had the duo of Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani been available; the former dropping out due to injury and the latter (having returned from a loan spell to Monaco) not registered for the Europa league.
Whilst I know I might be wrong, I seem to get the sense that Coach Brendan Rodgers will always harbour doubts about Kelechi’s centre forward credentials regardless of how many goals and assists produced by the 2013 Under 17 World Cup winner.
All the time Jamie Vardy played as Leicester’s centre forward this season, he has played near enough 90 minutes whereas Iheanacho is sure to be substituted when he plays in the absence on Vardy.
This is by no means a criticism of the former Liverpool Gaffer; rather it is a mere observation that represents to me the incredible need for Iheanacho to always prove his worth and my goodness, did he do just that last night against Zorya fc (knowing fully well that he will be substituted anyway).
Faced with near hopeless odds and an inescapable fading goal scoring opportunity as he was being drowned out by Zorya’s defenders deep in the 18 yard box, Iheanacho kept hope alive with his hold up play long enough to feed Maddison who made no mistake to put Leicester ahead just 29 minutes.
Having led the line admirably all night with sublime passes and lovely link-up plays, the Nigerian International’s beautiful back heel to release Barnes in 45 minutes was only eclipsed by how gloriously Barnes sliced through and chipped Zorya’s hapless goalkeeper to make it 2:0 to Leicester.
Not content with just being a provider, Iheanacho was alive to pounce on a sloppy back pass from Zorya’s Ivanisenya before turning centre defender L. Cvek inside out to smash the back of the net with an emphatic effort that drew applause from Coach Brendan Rodgers (who would later substitute Iheanacho in 75 minutes all the same).
Coach Rodgers will point to the need to give as many players as possible the chance to play as reasons for making substitutions. In fairness, it is difficult to argue against that however, on evidence of how well Iheanacho has been playing since last season, it is imperative he plays regularly to help in continually enhancing his confidence and improving his all-round game.
There was yet another opportunity for Iheanacho to add to his goal tally last night but his neat slice in 70 minutes off Castagne’s cunning cross only sliced the side netting agonisingly as he and his Leicester team mates had to settle for a convincing 3:0 win.
Next stop for Leicester is a difficult away trip to an ever-improving Arsenal on Sunday where the ever-improving Iheanacho will have to contend with Algeria’s Islam Slimani for a place as the centre forward.
Nacho scored a great goal for eagles against Tunisia. That goal could only come from a special player. He would have stolen all the shows if he had converted that penalty. Great player.
Is fun!!
I feel, if Nacho get more opportunities like this @club level,
He will challenge Victor in SE point man..
Mark It!
That is more like it Kelechi Promise Iheanacho Nwanne!! you have done very well.
you have to realise that you must score every week (week in week out as they say in UK ) as Bredan Rodgers needs only this to keep Playing you in Jamie Vardies absence. Most importantly to use you to give Vardy a gradual return from Injury. Jamie Vardy is 33 going on 34 it is what he needs he needs more rest and Brendan Rodgers as any any coach would Subconsciously require needs at least 2 capable strikers so as to not drop to much in quality if is unavailable or injured .
So if Kelechi Iheanacho can’t give Rogers that option then he will keep dropping down the pecking order at Leicester City FC, hence for CSN last to say last weekend that Iheanacho got a good rating and performed well in the last outing could not have been any further away than the truth.
This however is the kind of Super Performance Iheanacho needs week in week week out at leicester City to not be considered surplus to requirements and this is the kind of performance which he will keep improving upon (God willing). if he carries on like this it will be the sort of improvement that will establish him as the Number 1 Hitman in LCFC as we all know he can achieve because, all those years ago at under 17 World Cup 2013 this kid was destined for greatness.
Well done keep it up!!
nobody is talking about terem moffi or chuba akpom. desser spot is so shaky I hope the best for him. even lookman can play as a no9 or false 9.
iheanacho should do his best in gaining Rodgers trust as I believe the coach still doubt the no14 abilities. Iheanacho all the way
Lolzzzzz. Me sef enjoy Lookman as a false 9. They boy no be akamu. Lol.