JAMIE VARDY dug deep in Braga’s well-known ‘Quarry’ Stadium to ebook Leicester’s place within the knockout levels – simply as he was at risk of turning his aspect’s hopes to rubble!
The striker appeared to have made a uncommon blunder when he determined in opposition to working down the clock by taking the ball to the nook flag within the last minute, just for Braga to nick possession from him.
Jamie Vardy scored the late equaliser for Leicester MetropolisCredit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
Carlos Carvahal’s males made one last surge up the park and supersub Fransergio caught a dagger into the Foxes hearts by popping as much as poke the ball past Kasper Schmeichel to place his aspect 3-2 up.
It appeared to be the cruellest approach to finish a fairytale evening for 19-year-old Luke Thomas who thought he had sealed a late draw together with his first senior aim to ship Leicester via till then.
However Vardy wasn’t about to really feel sorry for himself and had the ultimate say – as he normally does.
5 minutes into damage time he pounced on Marc Albrighton’s low cross to steer the ball into the gaping Braga internet to ship the Foxes via to the knock-out levels in probably the most dramatic means conceivable.
Leicester’s final go to to Portugal hadn’t precisely gone to plan both as Claudio Ranieri made 10 adjustments for a lifeless rubber in opposition to Porto and his shadow aspect had been thumped 5-0.
Leicester solely held out for six minutes earlier than Andre Silva fired Nuno Espirito Santo’s Porto forward.
Extremely, Brendan Rodgers’ boys buckled even earlier this time and Schmeichel was cursing – not for the primary time – as he picked the ball out of his internet after 4 minutes.
Iuri Medeiros had a few pot photographs blocked by James Justin and Luke Thomas however sadly for Leicester the second rebound landed on the toes of Ali Al Musrati.
Jamie Vardy made no errors as he scored the equaliser Credit score: Reuters
Ali Elmusrati scored a screamer from exterior the field to interrupt the impasseCredit score: Reuters
Harvey Barnes levelled the scoring for Leicester within the ninth minute Credit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
The Libyan midfielder slammed a crisp low effort via a pack of Foxes and the ball sped into the far nook past an unsighted Schmeichel.
Having executed so effectively to make a constructive begin, Braga then shot themselves within the foot by gifting the guests an equaliser 5 minutes later.
This time Al Musrati was the villain as he casually handed to Kelechi Iheanacho following a Braga throw-in and the house aspect had been caught on the hop.
Though Iheanacho’s progress was halted the ball fell to Harvey Barnes and the winger expertly hammered the ball excessive previous Matheus on the ‘keeper’s close to put up.
Neither aspect appeared able to stifling their opponents and this was removed from the same old cat and mouse European fare as Braga swept ahead relentlessly they usually regained the lead earlier than the half hour mark.
Dangerman Medeiros performed a speedy 1-2 with Paulinho earlier than springing Ricardo Horta who simply managed to remain onside earlier than rounding Schmeichel.
The Dane pressured him vast however as a substitute of capturing from a decent angle, the 26-year-old pulled the ball again to current Paulinho with a straightforward tap-in for his twelfth European aim in 25 matches.
Below ought to have levelled earlier than the break after Iheanacho robbed a sloppy Viana to set him up however Matheus denied the Turk, jabbing out his proper glove to make a superb reflex save.
On the different finish Schmeichel bravely blocked Horta after which defied Paulinho with one other top-drawer save to maintain Leicester in it.
Brendan Rodgers clearly wasn’t a cheerful camper and despatched on Youri Tielemans and Wes Fofana for Christian Fuchs and Dennis Praet on the break, then introduced out the large weapons when James Maddison and Jamie Vardy had been launched simply after the hour.
Paulinho scored to place Braga again in full management within the first halfCredit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
It took Vardy lower than a minute to place the ball within the internet however for as soon as, the speedy striker had strayed a fraction offside.
With Zorya profitable in Athens all Leicester wanted was an equaliser to qualify for the knockout levels and Thomas thought he had offered it together with his late aim.
Nevertheless the actual drama was solely simply starting!
