U23s Report: Leicester City 2 Sunderland 3

- George Honeyman levelled from the spot four minutes later 

- Admiral Muskwe restore his side’s lead with a header just after the break 

- Honeyman fired in for Sunderland on the hour mark to make it 2-2 

- Ethan Robson curled in a fine free kick with just three minutes to play 

- Matty James, Gökhan Inler, Kapustka and Ben Chilwell all featured 

Ethan Robson’s late free kick saw Leicester City’s Development Squad beaten 3-2 at King Power Stadium in their first home fixture of the new Premier League 2 season. 

The Foxes made a brilliant start, as Bartosz Kapustka was quickest to convert a loose ball after Maksymilian Stryjek had tipped Matty James’ effort onto the post. 

City’s lead lasted just four minutes, as George Honeyman won and dispatched a penalty to make it 1-1 from 12 yards. 

Admiral Muskwe put Steve Beaglehole’s outfit back in front early on in the second period, but Honeyman was on target again on 60 minutes for 2-2. 

The game looked like it would finish all-square, but Ethan Robson sealed the win for Sunderland with a stunning free kick from distance. 

James played 90 minutes as part of his return to full fitness, while Gökhan Inler, Kapustka and Ben Chilwell all benefitted from some valuable pitch time. 

The Foxes responded well to their narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village last time out, with Lawrence flashing a free kick just inches wide inside two minutes. 

Muskwe saw a shot blocked deep inside the Sunderland box just two minutes later, while Sunderland’s wall did well to stand strong and block another Lawrence free kick with six minutes gone. 

Sunderland responded well and came close to taking the lead through striker Carl Lawson, who dragged an effort just wide of the mark on 12 minutes. 

City maintained their search for an opener and their efforts paid off on the 18-minute mark. James saw his shot tipped onto the post by Stryjek, but Kapustka was on hand to turn in the rebound from a tight angle. 

The Foxes’ lead lasted just four minutes though, as Honeyman won and calmly converted a penalty to haul his side level at King Power Stadium. 

Frontman Kairo Mitchell produced a neat turn just after the half-hour mark, but after working some space, he couldn’t direct his low drive on target. 

Muskwe next came close with six minutes of the first half to play, nodding over Darnell Johnson’s knock-down under pressure, before the striker side-footed wide of Stryjek’s upright as the game approached half-time. 

The Foxes made a brilliant start to the second period, as Muskwe beat Stryjek to the ball to restore his side’s lead on 53 minutes. 

But City were pegged back again on the hour mark, with Honeyman grabbing his second of the game to make it 2-2. 

It was a much tighter affair following Sunderland’s equaliser, with Daniel Iversen making a superb point-blank save with just over 10 minutes to play the keep the scores level. 

And while City looked on course to secure their first point of the season, Sunderland won it with three minutes to play through Ethan Robson’s 25-yard screamer. 

Muskwe came close to an equalising goal, but after rising well, he couldn’t direct substitute Matty Miles’ cross on target. 

The Foxes will play their second home Premier League 2 fixture in four days on Thursday, as they host Everton at Belvoir Drive behind closed doors (12.30pm kick-off). 

CITY: Iversen, Johnson, Chilwell, Inler, Moore (c), Trialist (Miles 24), Kapustka (Barnes 83), James, Mitchell, Muskwe (Ndukwu 65), Lawrence 

SUBS NOT USED: Kipre, Bramley 

GOALS: Kapustka 18, Muskwe 53 

SUNDERLAND: Stryjek, Casey, J. Robson (Taylor 55), Agnew, Ledger (Molyneux 61), Brady, Wright, E. Robson, Lawson (Maja 81), Honeyman (c), Greenwood 

SUBS NOT USED: Talbot, Embleton, Taylor 

GOALS: Honeyman pen 22, 60, E. Robson 87 

ATTENDANCE: 615 

REFEREE: Simon Barrow