Jannik Vestergaard

City Beaten In Polish Capital

Leicester City tasted defeat for the first time in the UEFA Europa League this season after losing 1-0 to Legia Warsaw on Thursday night.
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Academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall came into the XI to make his European debut for the Club, while Patson Daka started his second successive UEL fixture, alongside another four changes made to Brendan Rodgers' line-up from the 2-2 draw with Burnley last weekend.

Inspired by a relentlessly hostile home crowd, it was Legia who carved open the first true opportunity. It came as Mattias Johansson raced into the area and fed André Martins, lurking on the edge of the penalty area. Daniel Amartey was able to block it, though. 

Following a comfortable stop from captain Kasper Schmeichel, denying Martins, Leicester advanced. Ayoze Pérez, City's opening goalscorer in Europe this season, was central to their attacking endeavours in Warsaw too, first seeing an effort from inside the 18-yard box deflected wide for a corner.

Elsewhere, Daka won possession for the FA Cup holders high upfield and shielded the ball into Pérez's path. Another block came in as Dewsbury-Hall whipped in his second corner in quick succession. Legia shot-stopper Cezary Miszta completely missed it, but Pérez also wasn't expecting it and couldn't hit the target.

The Foxes were growing into the game. Pérez almost turned provider, too, when his perfect lofted ball landed for Daka in the area. Under pressure from Mateusz Wieteska, the Zambia international, who possesses plenty of experience in Europe, missed the target for the visitors.

Mahir Emreli blazed over from close range for Legia soon after, before the linesman raised their flag, while Bartosz Slisz robbed Youri Tielemans of the ball and carried it forwards until, around 30 yards out, electing to hit it, but it flew high and wide. Wojskowi, though, would soon take the lead.

Once again a threat, Emreli was able to drag a low effort across the goalmouth and into the bottom corner, hitting the base of the post on its route into the back of the net. Leicester looked to respond immediately when Tielemans' cross was nodded at goal by Timothy Castagne, but Miszta was there to save.

Tielemans was integral again just before the interval when his direct, but low, pass was taken well by Daka. However, the ball looked to be getting away from Leicester's No.29. Pérez spotted this and raced onto it, firing just wide of the right hand post. It was a precious chance, but it passed City by.

The visitors were unchanged at the interval and started the second period brightly with Boubakary Soumaré nodding Tielemans' corner into Jannik Vestergaard. His headed effort, though, was blocked at close range. Pérez later had the ball in the net, but Daniel Amartey had fouled in the build-up.

Daka got a shot away, on the spin after Dewsbury-Hall's through-ball, before the latter also hit the wall from a free-kick 20 yards out. Legia's defensive unit were also able to throw themselves in front of the youngster's follow-up, while Emreli was denied by Schmeichel on the counter-attack.

Miszta was there again to frustrate Leicester when he caught Daka's glancing header, from a Soumaré cross, but the Polish stopper would go on to make an extraordinary save shortly afterwards too, denying Vestergaard from point-blank range. Regardless, City were in the ascendancy and pushing forwards. 

They were to be boosted by the arrivals of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes from the bench as the volume levels rose again around Stadion Wojska Polskiego with the home faithful trying to do their bit to help the Polish champions over the line. 

Daka hit an audacious bicycle-kick over for the Foxes, who would later also introduce Ademola Lookman for the final stages. As Emreli's curler was deflected wide, Jamie Vardy also joined the fray, with around 10 minutes of normal time to play.

Leicester continued to push forwards. With five minutes remaining, Castagne's cross missed Vardy, but came to Maddison, whose effort was blocked on the line, before the No.10 lifted over with a left-footed strike in injury time.

Legia would carve out two big chances on the counter late on, but their work was done and the three points were theirs. 

Major moment 

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Jannik Vestergaard
Jannik Vestergaard

The Denmark centre-back had a header saved in the second period.

The only goal of the game proved enough for the visitors to make it two wins from two games in Group C, despite City creating a number of goalscoring chances of their own.

Perhaps their biggest fell to Jannik Vestergaard, whose close-range header was somehow kept out of the net.

Where do we stand?

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Brendan Rodgers

Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers watches on from the away technical area at Stadion Wojska Polskiego.

The Foxes sit fourth in Group C after Spartak Moscow beat Napoli 3-2 in Italy. They have one point from their two European outings so far this term.

Coming up...

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Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy applauds the travelling Blue Army at full-time.

City's last match before the next international break of 2021/22 sees them head to Selhurst Park for a Premier League encounter with Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace on Sunday (2pm kick-off).

All times BST.

Leicester City Crest

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