Leicester make light work of Randers

 

Leicester City have advanced to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, recording a 7-2 aggregate win against Danish side Randers.

The highlight of the game were two beautiful goals from James Maddison, who ended his six games goal drought.

Brendan Rodgers qualified for this knockout stage playoff round after finishing third in their Europa League group. The English side navigated the tie with few issues.

This is because they had won the first leg 4-1 in Denmark. Holding such a huge advantage gave them the confidence to move further.

Thus, the Foxes needed just 100 seconds to extend their advantage as Harvey Barnes broke clear and curled a delightful finish into the far corner.

The England winger failed to add another in the second half but fired wide from an acute angle.

Maddison then got a brace within four minutes. He scored the first with a free-kick into the top corner, and the second came through a sumptuous curling strike from 25 yards.

Randers later reduced the deficit back late on through Stephen Odey. Leicester skipper Kasper Schmeichel’s heavy touch on the ball allowed Odey to nip in and convert a gift from close range.

The draw for the Europa Conference League, which holds on Friday, will see the Foxes being picked out of the pot against a group winner.

The recently formed competition gives Leicester the opportunity of a silverware in Europe.

Leicester had suffered a shock exit in the FA Cup, being knocked out of the Carabao Cup and lying in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Rodgers had criticized his players’ performance in the FA Cup loss at Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, Leicester City have recorded two victories in the last eight games in all competitions against the Danish outfit.

The latest win also ended a run of four straight defeats away from home.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed