Debutant Iversen Stars In Shootout Win
Despite dominating in large spells, the match would be decided from 12 yards, and it was Iversen who proved to be the hero, before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall slammed his penalty in off the foot of the post in front of the travelling Leicester fans.
Three days after Saturday's league defeat by Southampton, manager Brendan Rodgers made 10 changes to his starting XI, with only Harvey Barnes remaining. Denmark youth international Iversen was handed his maiden appearance for the Football Club, while Marc Albrighton captained the side in Stockport.
With plenty of possession in the opening stages, Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho was the first to set his sights on goal, dragging wide with his left foot after receiving the ball from Senegal's Papy Mendy on the edge of the box.
On 12 minutes, with goalkeeper Vítězslav Jaroš off his line, Youri Tielemans curled an ambitious attempted over the crossbar from all of 35 yards. Iheanacho also tried his luck from even deeper, however his strike was also wayward.
City, wearing their new sand away kit for the first time, continued to dominate the ball, and were creating opportunities. Tielemans unleashed a well-struck drive from range, only to find Stockport's Ash Palmer in the way.
Efforts from distance were the order of the evening, with Ollie Crankshaw attempting to beat Iversen from the halfway line, however the stopper was able to watch the shot arrow straight to his feet, and it caused him no issue.
The light began to fade in Stockport, but Leicester's attacking threat only brightened. Good work from Dennis Praet saw him tee up Patson Daka, who forced Jaroš into a good save with his feet from close range. Still no breakthrough for the Foxes.
The combination of central defensive duo Çağlar Söyüncü and Jannik Vestergaard cut off the run of Connor Jennings, who made his way into the area before being ushered out. Barnes then drew a free-kick after Vestergaard cleared the ball to safety.
The hosts, promoted to Sky Bet League 2 from the Vanarama National League as champions last season, were growing into the game, and Iversen produced a fine two-handed save on the half-hour mark to beat away Callum Camps' rifled strike from nestling into the top corner of the net. The 1,128 members of the Blue Army housed in the stand behind Iversen's goal applauded the young 'keeper's athleticism.
Stockport were growing into the game, and defending well when required, with Joe Lewis standing strong to block a left-footed Barnes shot, before Luke Thomas hit the follow-up wide with 10 minutes of the first half remaining. Barnes then flashed an attempt from an Albrighton cross off target five minutes later.
After Iheanacho raced down the right flank and cut inside before bending his effort agonisingly wide of Jaroš' right-hand post, the last major action of the first period saw Barnes shoot straight into the arms of the Czech stopper. No goals after 45 minutes of second round action in Greater Manchester.
With the light from the last of the summer evening sun replaced by Edgeley Park's floodlights, the Foxes looked to build on the first half and five minutes after the interval, a chance opened up for Academy graduate Thomas, who couldn't direct his long-ranger on target.
At the other end, Stockport were inches away from making it 1-0 after Crankshaw drifted inside onto his left boot before curling into the stand with Iversen at full stretch. Not long after, a double change for Leicester followed as Timothy Castagne and James Maddison replaced Mendy and Daka respectively.
With 62 minutes gone, Jaroš got down low to hold onto Tielemans' low shot. Leicester were threatening, but the breakthrough wasn't forthcoming just yet. Another brace of substitutions meant Dewsbury-Hall and Ayoze Pérez entered the action, with Praet and Albrighton making way.
A neat phase of play from City meant Dewsbury-Hall nearly made an immediate impact, drilling into the arms of Jaroš, who had his near post well covered. A minute later, Iheanacho lifted into the away end, trying his luck from 20 yards out.
Playmaker Maddison's influence on the game was growing after his introduction, and after tidy footwork, he weaved into a shooting position, but his attempt trickled agonisingly wide, clipping Jaroš' water bottle along the way.
With the tie set to go straight to penalties if it ended level after 90 minutes, both outfits went in search of a decisive goal. First, Iversen collected as substitute Kyle Wootton tried to connect with a delivery, before Dewsbury-Hall had a strike cleared off the line moments later.
Next, Iheanacho and Maddison were denied within seconds of each other, and then Tielemans looked to have won it after a short corner found the Belgium international midfielder, only for his strike to fly just wide of the target.
More Leicester pressure meant Jaroš was forced into tipping Maddison's left-footed shot over the bar after the No.10 had jinked past two Stockport defenders to work an effort on goal. With four minutes to go, Tielemans smashed over and Vestergaard blocked from Crankshaw.
In injury time, Antoni Sarcevic had a free-kick blocked by the City wall, before Vestergaard met a Maddison delivery, however his header looped into the arms of Jaroš – spot-kicks would settle the match.
Tielemans and Barnes were on target for the Foxes, either side of a Maddison penalty that looked to have squeezed over the line, but just didn't have quite enough on it. Iversen, though, saved Stockport's first two penalties from Sarcevic and Scott Quigley, and while Pérez would lift his over, the Danish stopper denied Wootton to hand Dewsbury-Hall the opportunity to win it. He made no mistake, sending his boyhood club into the next round.
Major moment – Iversen's trio of saves
While Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was the man to secure a shootout win for the Foxes, Daniel Iversen's three penalty saves – all to the same side – were hugely decisive in the outcome.
Coming up – Chelsea (A)
Attentions turn back to the Premier League, with a visit to Stamford Bridge to tackle Chelsea on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Five days later, Manchester United will be welcomed to King Power Stadium in England's top flight (8pm kick-off).
All times BST.