Six Significant Shinji Okazaki Strikes
The Japan international registered 19 strikes during his time at the Football Club, scoring in the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
During his maiden season in England, he found the net six times and played a crucial role as the Foxes stunned the sporting world by lifting the Premier League trophy against all odds.
Okazaki would go on to score 13 more times in Leicester colours, including braces against Chelsea and Southampton and an important goal on the European stage against Club Brugge.
A maiden strike at West Ham
Having made his debut for the Club during 2015/16 season-opener against Sunderland – a 4-2 win at King Power Stadium – the Japan forward’s first away appearance in the Premier League resulted in a maiden goal for the Foxes. At the second time of asking, he headed a Jamie Vardy cross past Spanish stopper Adrián to set City on their way to a second-successive win before Riyad Mahrez doubled their advantage seven minutes before the interval.
The overhead kick
If you’re talking about iconic strikes from City’s title-winning campaign, this one is bound to come up in conversation. Twenty-five minutes into a chilly Monday evening clash with Newcastle United, Okazaki scored a simply brilliant overhead kick to register his first-ever goal on Filbert Way. King Power Stadium erupted as the Foxes recorded the second of four consecutive 1-0 triumphs at a hugely important period of the season.
Scoring on the European stage
Knowing a victory over Club Brugge would secure qualification to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, a lightning start in Leicester stood them in good stead as the City No.20 swept home a cross from his friend Christian Fuchs at the front post with only five minutes on the clock. A penalty from Mahrez made it 2-0, and while Jose Izquierdo’s impressive effort halved the Leicester advantage, the triumph ensured the hosts would finish top of Group G with a game to spare.
Shinji’s thunderous volley vs. Man City
City’s penultimate match of 2016/17 saw them suffer a 2-1 reverse against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, and while Okazaki’s goal proved to be a consolation effort, he will no doubt remember it as one of his sweetest. An in-swinging cross from Marc Albrighton found the run of the striker, who in fine fashion sent a first-time volley into the top corner of the net past Willy Caballero.
An Okazaki classic
Okay, so this one wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but it was trademark Shinji Okazaki. Vicente Iborra’s headed knockdown fell to the feet of the persistent Takarazuka-born forward. After taking a first touch to set himself, he fired low beyond future Leicester ‘keeper Danny Ward to put his side a goal up against Liverpool. A brilliant long-range shot from Islam Slimani made it 2-0 as Leicester began their run to the Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals with a third round win over the Reds.
Rounding off a fine team move
In the pouring rain at St. Mary’s Stadium, Leicester delivered arguably one of their best displays of 2017/18, with Okazaki at the heart of it all. After stabbing home from four yards in the first half, he grabbed his second of the game on 69 minutes. Mahrez intercepted Cédric Soares’ pass in midfield and found the run of Jamie Vardy, whose delivery into the box was pounced upon by Japan’s third-highest goalscorer of all time.