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The FA Cup - Replay
LeicesterLeicester City2FleetwoodFleetwood Town0

Leicester City 2-0 Fleetwood Town

By Emlyn BegleyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section FA Cupcomments195

Kelechi Iheanacho became the first player to score a goal awarded by a video assistant referee in English football as Leicester beat Fleetwood in an FA Cup third-round replay.

Iheanacho opened the scoring - with a routine strike - from Islam Slimani's pass.

The big talking point of the game came when the former Manchester City striker initially had a goal disallowed for offside from Riyad Mahrez's through ball.

But referee Jonathan Moss liaised with video official Mike Jones, who told him Nathan Pond's trailing foot was keeping Iheanacho onside, and the goal was awarded 67 seconds after it hit the back of the net.

The victory earned Leicester a tie at Peterborough in the next round.

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who missed the 0-0 draw in the initial tie, came on late on to face his former club, who are mid-table in League One.

VAR passes first major audition

This is the third time the video assistant referee (VAR) has been used as a trial in English football, all this month, after Brighton v Crystal Palace in the FA Cup and Chelsea v Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

The video referee was consulted in both those games, but never used to reverse a decision.

So 16 January 2018 and the first VAR decision becomes a landmark date for English football, like the first substitute to come on or the first game to be played under floodlights.

Moss had briefly spoken to the video official when Iheanacho had an earlier goal ruled out because the ball had crossed the byeline before Demarai Gray crossed it.

How does VAR work?

He also had another chat when Leicester's Vicente Iborra was pulled back in the box, but they decided not to award a penalty.

And he consulted him again after disallowing a second goal by the Nigerian for offside.

But this time Jones decided - correctly - that Pond was actually keeping him onside, a decision that was easily missed in real time by the officials.

Referee Moss would have had the choice to watch it again on a screen on the side of the pitch, had he wanted to - but he had the freedom to trust the video official.

Iheanacho takes his chance

Nigeria striker Iheanacho, 21, has been disappointing since his £25m summer move from Manchester City.

He has not had many chances - only playing a total of 403 minutes before the game against Fleetwood, but he has rarely impressed during that time - one goal against Leeds in the EFL Cup in October aside.

But he did a good job against Fleetwood, opening the scoring with their first shot of the whole tie after converting a pass from fellow bit-part big-money forward Slimani.

He then played in Slimani with a good ball over the top, but the Algerian - who did not look impressed to be replaced after 55 minutes - volleyed wide.

Iheanacho did well for his historic goal, when he ran on to captain-for-the-day Mahrez's through ball before clipping the ball over keeper Chris Neal.

Fleetwood played their part in the first half, with Ashley Hunter forcing a diving save from Eldin Jakupovic and Conor McAleny going close on several occasions.

But in the end the quality of Iheanacho was too much for them.

Line-ups

Leicester

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 17Jakupovic
  • 18Amartey
  • 16Dragovic
  • 29BenalouaneBooked at 35mins
  • 28Fuchs
  • 26MahrezSubstituted forVardyat 81'minutes
  • 14Adrien Silva
  • 21Iborra
  • 7Gray
  • 8IheanachoBooked at 17minsSubstituted forOkazakiat 81'minutes
  • 19SlimaniSubstituted forAlbrightonat 56'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Vardy
  • 11Albrighton
  • 12Hamer
  • 15Maguire
  • 20Okazaki
  • 25Ndidi
  • 32Barnes

Fleetwood

Formation 4-5-1

  • 1Neal
  • 19Jones
  • 6Pond
  • 12Bolger
  • 3Bell
  • 22Hunter
  • 18GlendonBooked at 45mins
  • 23SchwablSubstituted forGrantat 72'minutes
  • 8DempseyBooked at 71mins
  • 10McAlenySubstituted forBurnsat 65'minutes
  • 7Hiwula-MayifuilaSubstituted forColeat 65'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Coyle
  • 9Burns
  • 11Grant
  • 21Cairns
  • 28Sowerby
  • 38Cargill
  • 44Cole
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
17,237

Match Stats

Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamFleetwood
Possession
Home73%
Away27%
Shots
Home14
Away6
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away1
Fouls
Home9
Away9

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leicester City 2, Fleetwood Town 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leicester City 2, Fleetwood Town 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Demarai Gray (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Fuchs.

  4. Post update

    Offside, Leicester City. Adrien Silva tries a through ball, but Marc Albrighton is caught offside.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Demarai Gray (Leicester City).

  6. Post update

    Ashley Hunter (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Vicente Iborra (Leicester City).

  8. Post update

    Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Wes Burns (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Devante Cole.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Adrien Silva.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Jamie Vardy replaces Riyad Mahrez.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Shinji Okazaki replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Vicente Iborra (Leicester City) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Marc Albrighton with a cross following a corner.

  14. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Cian Bolger.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Demarai Gray.

  16. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  17. Post update

    Video Review: Goal. Referee decision on field cancelled.

  18. Post update

    Delay in match (Leicester City). Video Review.

  19. Goal!

    Goal! Leicester City 2, Fleetwood Town 0. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a through ball.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Daniel Amartey (Leicester City).

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Comments

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195 comments

  • Comment posted by Paz, at 21:42 16 Jan 2018

    Good to see VAR in action, about time football caught up!

  • Comment posted by goldenvision, at 21:54 16 Jan 2018

    I'll say it again. Until VAR is used in every game it will still be unfair on some teams.

  • Comment posted by dan0304, at 22:10 16 Jan 2018

    It's done it's job. Thats what it's there for. If not used then everyone goes home and gives the ref a hard time. Watching tonight game and this scenario just goes to show how hard a refs/linesmans job is. If that happens in a cup final then it's spoke about for ages with the officials getting blamed left right and centre by fans, players, mangers, media

  • Comment posted by User0126244157, at 22:22 16 Jan 2018

    For all you luddites out there who oppose this, just look at the BIG positives.

    No more moaning from Jose and Arsene!

  • Comment posted by Ledwulf, at 21:52 16 Jan 2018

    The system worked, and didn't take a long time.

    Those saying mistakes are part of the game, wouldn't be saying that if it cost their team a cup tie, or vital league points.

  • Comment posted by Stevanovic, at 21:52 16 Jan 2018

    VARy good.

  • Comment posted by Markthehorn, at 21:57 16 Jan 2018

    And nice to see the decision accepted by the Fleetwood players.

    My only fear is as in some other countries managers and players will still dispute decisions made by the VAR ref ..

    Let's hope it works and leads to less cheating and more respect!

  • Comment posted by Penelope Poopsalot, at 21:47 16 Jan 2018

    VAR worked superbly - soon we robots will rule the universe puny Earthlings

  • Comment posted by Bendtner_52, at 21:55 16 Jan 2018

    This instance of VAR being used for an offside happened quickly, so right decision. I still don't think we have an answer to what happens when a defender sees a flag is up incorrectly and stops playing. If we're saying then players need to play to a dead ball, what if the dead ball is a counter attack and a goal? I'm not trying to kill the concept, but think key questions still need an answer.

  • Comment posted by ipunchhard, at 22:24 16 Jan 2018

    Don’t let this distract you from the fact that In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....

  • Comment posted by Houdi, at 22:42 16 Jan 2018

    Every single week in nearly every single Premier game people are on here complaining about decisions that have cost their team the match. Hundreds of posts saying we need VAR. Well, now we have it and they're still moaning. And probably the same people, I'll bet. All those complaining about VAR, please come back on when a bad decision goes against your team and say 'It's okay, that's football'.

  • Comment posted by Oncha, at 22:20 16 Jan 2018

    VAR's clearly a neutral and unequivocal abiter. It's highly welcome into modern football with its even higher stakes. Iheanacho, has a wholesome instinct of a striker but has had his confidence as a player and a striker almost eroded since moving to Leicester, due lack of game time. Good for him to rediscover some of that confidence in this match and congrats to him on being a VAR history maker.

  • Comment posted by im still standing yeah yeah yeah, at 22:34 16 Jan 2018

    The time it takes players to surround the ref argue the goal, penalty, and cause havoc during the game, is about the time it takes the ref to make a var decision .

  • Comment posted by Tiger Feet, at 21:57 16 Jan 2018

    @5 Clough 80 - 1999, 19 years and still counting.

  • Comment posted by John Prescott , at 21:45 16 Jan 2018

    The VAR was used and it helped overturn a wrong decision in seconds, which is great. My only issue is if that pass/attack is a bit further away from goal, the linesman raises his flag and play is called back. How do overturn that wrong decision? Is the ref going to keep every attack going incase the linesman is wrong?

  • Comment posted by Alexb, at 22:00 16 Jan 2018

    Hats off to the referees, they get such a hard time of it and hopefully VAR will help alleviate some of the abuse they receive.

  • Comment posted by User0582917300, at 23:35 16 Jan 2018

    If it works like that everytime then it is a winner.
    No more whinging from managers and only takes couple of minutes that can be added on as injury time.
    We now at the moment have to listen to crying managers for weeks

  • Comment posted by Jesús A Bermúdez-Silva, at 22:26 16 Jan 2018

    @38, Of course VAR in this case has meant justice was done as the goal was valid according to the current game laws. Personally, I think you need to read the rules of the game. Doing so would answer your queries.

  • Comment posted by dan0304, at 22:54 16 Jan 2018

    @56

    But when you consider that the mistake could cost a team £120 million, a manager his job or a country a place in the world cup, I think its worth having dont you?

  • Comment posted by Johnvaughan1965, at 23:23 16 Jan 2018

    VAR - best thing to happen to football. Luddites go away and get back in your box! About time these stupid decisions stopped.

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