Internationals: Mahrez, Schmeichel and Morgan In Action

- Kasper Schmeichel stars for Denmark against Sweden in Euro 2016 play-off
- Riyad Mahrez involved in both goals in Algeria’s 2-2 draw with Tanzania
- Wes Morgan plays in Jamaica’s defeat to Panama
Leicester City involvement on the international stage continued on Saturday, with Riyad Mahrez, Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan all in action.
After a busy night of friendlies for City stars on Friday, attention turned to competitive action for Algeria, Denmark and Jamaica in their respective quests to reach the 2016 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup.
Schmeichel and Denmark made the short trip to Stockholm to tackle Sweden in the first leg of their Euro 2016 qualification play-off and the Foxes’ No.1 produced a display that may yet prove pivotal in determining which nation heads for France next summer.
For while Denmark head into Tuesday’s second leg in Copenhagen with a 2-1 deficit to overturn, the tie could have been effectively over had it not been for Schmeichel’s heroics.
First-half saves from Marcus Berg and Zlatan Ibrahimovic particularly stood out, though Kasper was powerless to prevent Emil Forsberg sweeping home shortly before half-time.
Ibrahimovic doubled Sweden’s lead after the break from the penalty spot, but the value of Kasper’s first-half resistance was underlined late-on when Denmark pulled back a precious away goal through Nicolai Jorgensen.
That strike leaves the tie delicately poised heading into Tuesday’s second leg, where a 1-0 home win would be enough to send Denmark to France.
Earlier in the day, Mahrez continued to show the dazzling qualities that have made him one of the Premier League’s standout performers this term, helping Algeria rescue a draw from the first leg of their preliminary World Cup qualifier against Tanzania.
Tanzania looked set to cause a major upset when goals either side of half-time put the hosts into a commanding 2-0 lead in the second half. But Algeria recovered thanks to two tidy finishes from Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani. Typically, Mahrez was involved in the build-up to Slimani’s first and provided a defence-splitting through-ball for the equaliser.
Algeria host the second leg of the tie in Blida on Tuesday, where a win will see them advance to the main group stage of qualification, which starts in 2016.
Morgan’s Jamaica took on Panama in the early hours in their opening game of the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying, but it was a night to forget for the City defender in Kingston.
Panama led at the break through Armando Cooper, before doubling their advantage in fortuitous circumstances as Morgan, stretching to clear a dangerous cross from the left flank, inadvertently turned the ball past his own goalkeeper.
The campaign continues for the Reggae Boyz on Tuesday against Haiti in Port-au-Prince.