- Michael Cain netted a brace, while Joe Dodoo, Leonardo Ulloa and Harry Panayiotou were all on target for the Foxes
- First teamers Mark Schwarzer, Ritchie De Laet, Yohan Benalouane and Ulloa all played 90 minutes in the win
A convincing victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium saw Leicester City’s Development Squad advance to the U21 Premier League Cup Round of 16 stage.
After a goalless first half, the Foxes surged into a 3-0 lead thanks to strikes from Joe Dodoo, Michael Cain and Leonardo Ulloa.
Stoke replied shortly after through Julien N’Goy, but Harry Panayiotou restored City’s three-goal advantage at the second time of asking after being initially denied by shot-stopper Daniel Gyollai.
N’Goy was on the scoresheet again with 10 minutes to play, but City were ruthless in the second period and went 5-2 up thanks to Cain’s second strike of the game to ensure their passage into the next round.
First teamers Mark Schwarzer, Ritchie De Laet, Yohan Benalouane and Ulloa all completed 90 minutes in the victory as they gained some valuable game time as the 2015/16 campaign briefly pauses for the international break.
Stoke and Leicester had met in a behind-closed-doors friendly that finished 1-0 back in September and there looked to be another narrow affair on the cards on Tuesday afternoon after both sides failed to break the deadlock in the first period.
But in a stunning second-half display, Leicester struck five times in 27 minutes to earn a deserved victory in Staffordshire.
The hosts looked dangerous from the off as Schwarzer made a stunning point-blank save to deny Dominic Telford inside the first minute.
Cain then twice went close, firing wide from the edge of the box on both occasions, before the midfielder set up Matty Miles, who saw his effort blocked shortly after.
The hosts threatened again as Telford hammered over on the half-hour mark, while Ulloa nodded just wide at the other end from Jak McCourt’s corner.
An excellent challenge from Miles then ensured the game would stay goalless heading into half-time as the midfielder blocked Mohamed El Ouriachi’s low drive deep inside the City box.
City emerged with real intent after the break, as skipper McCourt saw his ambitious effort from the half-way line sail wide, before Dodoo eventually opened the scoring on 54 minutes.
The winger, who looked lively all afternoon, worked himself some space and fired in a low effort from 25 yards to give City a 1-0 lead.
Just five minutes after Dodoo’s strike, the Foxes doubled their lead. Panayiotou saw his cross cleared to the feet of Cain, who fired in a deflected effort just before the hour mark.
City made it 3-0 eight minutes later as Cain this time turned provider. The midfielder lifted a fine pass into the path of Ulloa, who slotted in from a difficult angle to beat Gyollai.
Stoke pulled one back shortly after as substitute N’Goy headed in Telford’s cross at the back post, but it took just one minute for City to restore their three-goal advantage.
Panayiotou saw his first effort denied by Gyollai, but the St. Kitts and Nevis international striker made no mistakes with the rebound, slotting in to make it 4-1.
The hosts then scored their second goal of the game with 10 minutes to play as N’Goy raced through before slotting in past Schwarzer.
But another swift reply saw Cain calmly beat Gyollai from range after the Stoke stopper had punched Dodoo’s dangerous delivery away.
That goal proved to be the last significant action of a match that certainly tested City’s resolve on a number of occasions.
The Foxes' 2015/16 campaign continues on Monday 16 November, when they take on PSV Eindhoven in the Premier League International Cup at King Power Stadium (7pm kick-off).
STOKE: Gyollai, Banks (c), Taylor, Molina, Watkins-Clark, O’Reilly, Verlinden, Shenton, Waring (N’Goy 62), Telford, El Ouriachi
SUBS NOT USED: Waddington, Eve, Moseley, Roberts
GOALS: N’Goy 69, 80
CITY: Schwarzer, De Laet, Barmby, McCourt (c), Moore (Kipre 83), Benalouane, Miles (Fox 74), Cain, Ulloa, Panayiotou (Rowe 85), Dodoo
SUBS NOT USED: Johnson, Smith-Varnham
GOALS: Dodoo 54, Cain 59, 81, Ulloa 67, Panayiotou 70