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Europa Conference League - Semi-final - 1st Leg
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Leicester City 1-1 Roma: Brendan Rodgers' side fight back to earn draw

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at King Power Stadium

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments197

Ademola Lookman
Gianluca Mancini turned in under pressure from Ademola Lookman

Leicester City's Europa Conference League semi-final remains in the balance after a hard-fought draw with Jose Mourinho's Roma at The King Power Stadium.

Foxes' manager Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed they are not taking a lead to Stadio Olimpico for the second leg after they dominated the second half and came from behind to draw level.

Roma struck early when Nicola Zalewski played in captain Lorenzo Pellegrini for a smooth low finish underneath Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel in the 15th minute.

Leicester maintained their composure and deservedly equalised after 67 minutes when Ademola Lookman bundled in a cross from Harvey Barnes, via defender Gianluca Mancini.

Mourinho will be satisfied with this result as Leicester could not make their domination pay, with Roma keeper Rui Patricio saving superbly from lively substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, who also headed over from close range.

Foxes still have hope

Leicester City will believe they did not get the result their performance deserved as Roma defended for the draw which seemed to suit their purposes and those of coach Mourinho.

The Foxes were rocked back by Roma's early goal but get great credit for refusing to panic and continuing to play their passing game which brought the reward of a scrambled equaliser.

Roma's threat was very fleeting, although Schmeichel was called into action in the closing stages to turn substitute Sergio Oliveira's shot on to the woodwork following a clever backheel from England striker Tammy Abraham.

Leicester were tireless, with James Maddison constantly probing despite not having his usual shooting accuracy while Jamie Vardy understandably looked short of full match fitness following his injury absence.

Rodgers has every right to remain positive, however, because Leicester were the better side, were rarely troubled at the back and only lacked cutting edge up front.

Roma, rightly, will feel they are in a favoured position but Leicester will still feel their first appearance in a European final remains a possibility.

Player of the match

AbrahamTammy Abraham

with an average of 7.51

Leicester City

  1. Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall
    Average rating

    6.99

  2. Squad number7Player nameBarnes
    Average rating

    6.82

  3. Squad number37Player nameLookman
    Average rating

    6.78

  4. Squad number2Player nameJustin
    Average rating

    6.56

  5. Squad number10Player nameMaddison
    Average rating

    6.51

  6. Squad number9Player nameVardy
    Average rating

    6.50

  7. Squad number6Player nameEvans
    Average rating

    6.41

  8. Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
    Average rating

    6.41

  9. Squad number3Player nameFofana
    Average rating

    6.39

  10. Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
    Average rating

    6.32

  11. Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
    Average rating

    6.26

  12. Squad number8Player nameTielemans
    Average rating

    6.26

  13. Squad number21Player nameRicardo Pereira
    Average rating

    6.13

  14. Squad number27Player nameCastagne
    Average rating

    5.93

  15. Squad number17Player nameAyoze PĂ©rez
    Average rating

    5.91

Roma

  1. Squad number9Player nameAbraham
    Average rating

    7.51

  2. Squad number6Player nameSmalling
    Average rating

    7.10

  3. Squad number7Player namePellegrini
    Average rating

    6.89

  4. Squad number1Player nameRui PatrĂ­cio
    Average rating

    6.73

  5. Squad number3Player nameIbañez
    Average rating

    6.59

  6. Squad number77Player nameMkhitaryan
    Average rating

    6.58

  7. Squad number22Player nameZaniolo
    Average rating

    6.47

  8. Squad number59Player nameZalewski
    Average rating

    6.46

  9. Squad number23Player nameMancini
    Average rating

    6.42

  10. Squad number4Player nameCristante
    Average rating

    6.37

  11. Squad number2Player nameKarsdorp
    Average rating

    6.36

  12. Squad number5Player nameViña
    Average rating

    5.86

  13. Squad number64Player nameAfena-Gyan
    Average rating

    5.73

  14. Squad number27Player nameSĂ©rgio Oliveira
    Average rating

    5.30

  15. Squad number17Player nameVeretout
    Average rating

    5.16

Line-ups

Leicester

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 21Ricardo Pereira
  • 3Fofana
  • 6Evans
  • 27CastagneSubstituted forJustinat 21'minutes
  • 10Maddison
  • 8Tielemans
  • 22Dewsbury-HallBooked at 25mins
  • 11AlbrightonSubstituted forBarnesat 63'minutes
  • 9VardyBooked at 59minsSubstituted forIheanachoat 62'minutes
  • 37LookmanSubstituted forPĂ©rezat 84'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Justin
  • 4SöyĂĽncĂĽ
  • 7Barnes
  • 12Ward
  • 14Iheanacho
  • 17PĂ©rez
  • 18Amartey
  • 20Choudhury
  • 23Vestergaard
  • 29Daka
  • 33Thomas
  • 42SoumarĂ©

Roma

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1Rui PatrĂ­cio
  • 23Mancini
  • 6Smalling
  • 3Ibañez da Silva
  • 2Karsdorp
  • 77MkhitaryanSubstituted forVeretoutat 57'minutes
  • 4Cristante
  • 7PellegriniSubstituted forAfena-Gyanat 85'minutes
  • 59ZalewskiSubstituted forViñaat 85'minutes
  • 22ZanioloBooked at 63minsSubstituted forOliveiraat 69'minutes
  • 9AbrahamBooked at 8mins

Substitutes

  • 5Viña
  • 11PĂ©rez
  • 14Shomurodov
  • 15Maitland-Niles
  • 17Veretout
  • 24Kumbulla
  • 27Oliveira
  • 37Spinazzola
  • 52Bove
  • 64Afena-Gyan
  • 87Cerântula Fuzato
  • 92El Shaarawy
Referee:
Carlos del Cerro Grande
Attendance:
31,659

Match Stats

Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamRoma
Possession
Home68%
Away32%
Shots
Home13
Away4
Shots on Target
Home2
Away2
Corners
Home11
Away1
Fouls
Home11
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leicester City 1, Roma 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leicester City 1, Roma 1.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Roma. Rui PatrĂ­cio tries a through ball, but Felix Afena-Gyan is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Hand ball by James Maddison (Leicester City).

  5. Post update

    Foul by Youri Tielemans (Leicester City).

  6. Post update

    Felix Afena-Gyan (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City).

  8. Post update

    Chris Smalling (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Wesley Fofana (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Felix Afena-Gyan (Roma).

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Roma. Felix Afena-Gyan replaces Lorenzo Pellegrini.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Roma. Matias Viña replaces Nicola Zalewski.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Ayoze PĂ©rez replaces Ademola Lookman.

  14. Post update

    Corner, Roma. Conceded by Kasper Schmeichel.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. SĂ©rgio Oliveira (Roma) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Tammy Abraham.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Rui PatrĂ­cio.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jordan Veretout (Roma) right footed shot from long range on the left is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Nicola Zalewski.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Ibañez.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.

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Comments

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197 comments

  • Comment posted by The Spin Doctor, at 22:07 28 Apr

    All to play for Leicester. Roma are very beatable at home if Rodgers gets his tactics right.

    • Reply posted by rospur, at 22:17 28 Apr

      rospur replied:
      Absolutely No chance

  • Comment posted by Dirkster, at 22:02 28 Apr

    Leicester were the better team.

    Half time

    Game on....

    • Reply posted by rospur, at 22:17 28 Apr

      rospur replied:
      Roma will take you apart at home, leciester will just sit back

  • Comment posted by passing wind is my Raison d etre, at 22:29 28 Apr

    2 former Man City managers on the scoresheet

  • Comment posted by blue boy, at 21:59 28 Apr

    Good entertaining game. Well played lads. Still all to play for. Fingers crossed, you never know.

    • Reply posted by gone-for-a-walk-bye, at 22:06 28 Apr

      gone-for-a-walk-bye replied:
      No no chance you needed to win tonight bottled it

  • Comment posted by tv, at 22:02 28 Apr

    It'll be tough next week against a Mourinho team at home. Leicester have got to start taking their chances....

    • Reply posted by kingpaul, at 06:28 29 Apr

      kingpaul replied:
      Mourinho team? Its not 2009 mate. Mourinho is a source of hope for Leicester, not fear

  • Comment posted by Maccers, at 22:29 28 Apr

    The name of this competition doesn’t do it any favours. English fans of a certain vintage automatically think of the Vauxhall Conference, but the reality is it’s Europe’s third competition (like the Cup Winners Cup used to be). It’s a fantastic achievement to win it and anyone who says different is either contrary or has engaged fingers before brain.

    • Reply posted by Dr Doug85, at 22:35 28 Apr

      Dr Doug85 replied:
      Maybe I'm too young, but I feel the cup winners cup was prestigious, well worth winning and was the 2nd European Cup. This is more like the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

  • Comment posted by jambo1, at 21:59 28 Apr

    Still fancy Leicester to make final.

    • Reply posted by gone-for-a-walk-bye, at 22:09 28 Apr

      gone-for-a-walk-bye replied:
      In your dreams

  • Comment posted by andyw, at 22:12 28 Apr

    I'm no fan of Leicester, but hope they turn this round next week, if only to stop the "miserable one" from having something else to boast about.

    • Reply posted by Bazza84, at 00:17 29 Apr

      Bazza84 replied:
      To be honest considering what he has won in his career, he would look a bit silly bragging about winning the third tier competition in European Club Football. But then again he is a well known braggart who is anything but humble so who knows.

  • Comment posted by OzTB, at 22:40 28 Apr

    Not a great night for the British clubs but they are still well in their ties.

  • Comment posted by Bazza84, at 22:12 28 Apr

    Cautiously optimistic we can get a smash and grab win in Rome.

    • Reply posted by Wombat_LCFC, at 22:54 28 Apr

      Wombat_LCFC replied:
      According to the pundits Baz, it was all over in the quarter final when we could only draw the first leg with PSV
      We need another brave performance in Italy next week.
      it will be tough, but Foxes Never Quit, so we're still in with a 'punchers chance'

  • Comment posted by blue boy, at 09:48 29 Apr

    As a Leicester supporter I find it rather strange that we seem to attract a few Spurs fans to our HYS. Why is this ? They keep reminding us how much bigger and better they are so why bother ? Have we done something to upset you in the past ? The answer is YES WE DID. Love it. Gerrcha.

    • Reply posted by NewtothisGame, at 10:06 29 Apr

      NewtothisGame replied:
      It might be that you played a team managed by our previous manager? Whenever you play us you try to create a rivalry that isn’t there. Go and play your 69 derby or whatever it is called.

  • Comment posted by BlueFox, at 08:13 29 Apr

    Roma were nothing special Leicester can win this providing Bodgers plays the right players in the right positions, ie Maddison behind Vardy.

  • Comment posted by Paul55677, at 23:37 28 Apr

    Very good performance from the Foxes, but lacked the cutting edge in the final third that the approach play deserved. Lookman had a couple of chances and if he had bust a gut to meet the excellent cross would have scored. Maddison should have squared to Barnes for a tap in instead of going it alone and trying to steal the headlines!. Still, after all said and done, all to play for next week!

    • Reply posted by dibbdroid, at 23:41 28 Apr

      dibbdroid replied:
      It's great spotting things from your armchair but Madders had no time to look up and see Barnes in the moment.

  • Comment posted by Oncha, at 22:15 28 Apr

    Fair result in the end. Though Leicester should've worked harder at taking a 1st leg win to Rome. Maybe, getting the Leicester mid-fielders to work a bit more at moving the ball more quickly in the 3rd end and crossing the ball into the 18 yard box will do them some goal scoring good. Smalling was clearly the difference. Man U fans might not believe his performance tonight.

  • Comment posted by Lorenzo de Matteo, at 10:37 29 Apr

    Watched the match in a bar in Tenerife with a few Leicester fans. Good banter and realistic about their hopes for the second leg. It's going to be fine margins i reckon?

  • Comment posted by DrCajetanCoelho, at 08:25 29 Apr

    Foxes have work to do in the Eternal City. Scoring a few more goals in their own den would have come handy. All the best to footballers and fans of Rodgers and Mourinho in the Rome summit.

  • Comment posted by bazinga, at 08:59 29 Apr

    Roma will not sit back in the second leg we will have to play on the counter, sounds like its set up for vardy, barnes n lookman to have a good go. Should be a good game . If we win it do we get one of those stars thingys that forest have.

  • Comment posted by Tony, at 23:53 28 Apr

    Same old story just one up top at home and to much fading about with the ball at the back which continually have Roma plenty of time to take a breath & reset & more often than not we try to make to many passes & again get bogged down in a war in midfield using up energy when we should have two up top and if we cannot pass it quickly through the lines then fine just knock the ball over the top!

  • Comment posted by Emm, at 14:55 29 Apr

    02/05/2018, Roma Liverpool 4-2
    31/10/17, Roma Chelsea 3-1
    06/05/202, Roma Man united 3-2

  • Comment posted by Fox, at 10:20 29 Apr

    Roma were very, very dirty. The ref either bottled it or, left his yellow card in the dressing room

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