Now Let’s Win The Group, Says Rodgers
- Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City will now try and win their group after a 3-3 draw with SC Braga secured qualification to the knockout stages
- Jamie Vardy came off the bench to score in the 95th minute at Estádio Municipal de Braga
- City are now seven points clear of third place in Group G with two games to play
An enthralling encounter between the group’s first and second-placed teams did not disappoint, as the points were shared in a six-goal thriller in the northern region of Portugal.
City could have easily wilted when Fransergio made it 3-2 to Braga on 90 minutes, but the visiting side’s courage was as strong as the cliff face that Estádio Municipal de Braga is carved into, as Jamie Vardy struck four minutes and 37 seconds into injury time.
The result, coupled with Zorya Luhansk’s 3-0 win at 10-man AEK Athens, means Leicester, with two games to go, have an unassailable lead in Group G’s top two positions.
“We’ve achieved the first objective, which is to qualify,” Rodgers reflected to LCFC TV. “Now, we want to try and ensure that we go on and win the group.
“It was a really good game. I thought in the second half, we were outstanding. We came from behind three times.
“We weren’t very good in the first half at all, we were too slow, and that means that defensively and offensively, it was too static. So, they were the better team in the first half, then we made some changes in the second half.
“That brought a different dynamic to the team – better movement, better speed in the game. We were excellent in the second half.
“In saying that, we made a mistake in our pressing and they had the chance to win it, but it just typifies the mentality in the group to keep going and to get that equaliser right at the end. We thoroughly deserved it and that was obviously an important point for us.”
City had to come from behind on three occasions on Thursday, with Harvey Barnes and Luke Thomas also on target before Vardy’s all-important leveller in the 95th minute.
For Rodgers, that displayed his side's undeniable character, as they bounced back from Sunday's frustrating loss at Liverpool.
“It says everything – they’re never beaten – and that’s what is important,” Rodgers said. “It’s important for us coming off a disappointing result against Liverpool that we come in and perform well.
“I think there was a little bit of a hangover from that in the first half. Obviously, I’m having to make changes to manage the physicality of the team. Our challenge in the second half was to come back and not lose the game.
“I thought we did that, and I thought we were excellent in our play. We got into some great areas and maybe should have won the game. But we’ll take the point, away from home in Europe. A point is important and we’re really happy to qualify.”