Mueez Ajao
– Leicester City beat Danish side Randers in their Europa Conference League knockout round play-off first leg.
– Wilfried Ndidi gave the Foxes the lead with a side-footed finish from Ademola Lookman’s pass.
– Vito Hammershoej-Mistrati levelled for Randers against the run of play, but Harvey Barnes restored the lead with a turn and clever finish.
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– Patson Daka added a third and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall slotted home after good work by Kelechi Iheanacho.
– Daka appeared offside before tapping in after Youri Tielemans’ shot was parried – but the video assistant referee system is only used in the final of Uefa’s newest tournament.
– Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers claimed he did not know what this competition was or that his side were in it after finishing third in their Europa League group.
– But he named a strong team nonetheless and the second leg in Denmark next week should be a formality.
– The winners of this tie face one of the Europa Conference League group winners in the last 16.
– Winning the whole thing would put Leicester in next year’s Europa League and it may be their best bet of doing so.
– They were far too good for the Danish Cup winners, who have never been further than the first round of a European competition before.
– Daka headed over, Dewsbury-Hall had a shot cleared off line, Caglar Soyuncu had a half-volley saved and Daniel Amartey headed wide – all before the first goal.
– The chances continued to come, 23 shots in total, and they will rarely have an easier night in Europe.
– The one worry was James Maddison going down unchallenged in second half, although he was able to walk off the pitch with help.
