Leicester City knocks Sevilla out of Champions League

Leicester City is now qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League after beating Sevilla 2-0 on Tuesday night and 3-2 on aggregate.

Wes Morgan opened scoring for the Foxes in the first half, before Marc Albrighton scored in the second half to send Sevilla packing from the competition, after Samir Nasri was sent off for a second yellow card.

First Half

It was the Spanish side who began this game with the intent to take it by the scruff of the neck, as former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri received a fine pass inside the Leicester box, but his effort was saved by Kasper Schmeichel in goal for the English champions.

But after that fourth minute opportunity for Sevilla, it was an open game of football as Leicester also showed their intent going forward – Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki providing the threat for the Foxes.

Anyone who thought Sevillla would have gone on to dominate the game, especially in this half, would have been sorely mistaken, as Leicester gave as much as they got, in a very open half which saw both sides show true attacking intent.

And that intent would bear fruit when a free-kick was whipped into the Sevilla box, beating all the other players, the ball found its way to Morgan, who bundled home to give the Foxes the lead, and a goal that could prove the winner in this one.

Second Half

This period began just like the first, Leicester, despite going ahead in the first half, kept putting their Spanish counterparts under pressure and Sevilla on their part, were not relenting as they also tried to put the Foxes on the back foot with their own spate of attacks.

And La Liga side nearly leveled in the 54th minute, as Sergio Escudero’s pile driver only got off the woodwork. That should have been the equalizer for Sevilla, but the effort only went inches away from the goal.

However, moments later, Leicester would take advantage as rebound shot found the feet of Albrighton, who fired home to double the Foxes’ lead on the night and take them 3-2 on aggregate. What a night it was turning out to be.

Leicester continued to show their attacking intent, as Vardy then went close, but his effort went wide of the post.

With the frustration setting in, Nasri was sent off after being shown a second yellow card. The midfielder and Vardy appeared to headbutt each other, and the referee showed both players a yellow card, but Nasri had to take the walk of shame, having received a yellow card in the first half.

And as the game wore on, Sevilla were handed a penalty after Schmeichel was adjudged to have brought down a player inside his box. Steven Nzonzi stepped forward, but the Danish goalkeeper guessed the right way to keep Leicester’s lead.

With the clock winding down, Vardy had the perfect opportunity to kill the game after being teed up by Riyad Mahrez, but the England striker’s effort was way off target. But they wouldn’t regret it in the end as they held on for a famous win to progress to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.