By Daily sports on November 6, 2020

Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice and provided an assist as Leicester City secured a 4-0 victory over Sporting Braga in Thursday’s Europa League game.

The centre-forward was afforded his second start in the competition and made the most of the opportunity, helping the Foxes to clinch their third consecutive victory in the European tournament.

Iheanacho opened the scoring in the 21st minute of the encounter after he was set up by James Maddison.

The Nigeria international fired home his effort from close range beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matheus.

His effort ensured Leicester went into the break with a 1-0 lead and continued their domination after the restart with the Super Eagles attacker leading the onslaught.

The centre-forward doubled the Foxes’ lead with a well-taken strike, three minutes into the second half after receiving a timely assist from Cengiz Under.

Iheanacho then crowned his outstanding performances by setting up Dennis Praet in the 67th minute before Maddison sealed the victory for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

The forward has now been involved in five goals in two Europa League starts for the King Power Stadium outfit in the current campaign.

The 24-year-old attacker featured for 72 minutes in his third appearance in the competition before making ways for Ayoze Perez.

The victory helped Leicester strengthen their lead atop of Group G table with nine points from three games.

Meanwhile, two own goals helped Arsenal recover from falling behind to crush Molde 4-1 in Europa League Group B on Thursday, with Nicolas Pepe and Joe Willock also scoring for the Londoners.

Arsenal struggled to deal with Molde’s aggressive pressing game and that led to Martin Ellingsen’s opening goal as the Norwegians won the ball in midfield and he fired home a dipping shot from outside the area in the 22nd minute.

The home side equalised in first-half stoppage time after a sweeping move from a Molde corner. Eddie Nketiah whipped in a low centre from the right and Kristoffer Haugen bundled the ball into his own net.

Defender Sead Kolasinac missed a glorious chance for Arsenal, hoofing the ball over an open goal from close range, but they went ahead in the 62nd minute when Willock pulled the ball across and Sheriff Sinyan shanked it into his own net.

Pepe made it three eight minutes later with a thumping left-foot shot before Arsenal turned the tables by pressuring a Molde clearance, winning the ball and setting up Willock to score.

Arsenal top Group B on a maximum nine points from three games, three ahead of Molde. Rapid Vienna, who beat Irish side Dundalk 4-3 earlier in the evening, are third on three points.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tells BT Sport: “It was really important for us to win tonight and go top of the group. We had a convincing victory and the boys tried to go for them from the first minute. We went a goal behind but it was about the reaction, we created lot of chances.

“If they did not score the own goals, we had players there for the tap in. We could sustain attacks and we did not want to let them run on the counter because they are a threat.

“I really like the approach that the younger players are having for each game, they want to make the difference, they are playing with a lot of personality.

“Joe Willock could have scored more, he created a goal and a good performance. Keep doing what he is doing consistently and his chance will arrive (in the Premier League).”

Also on Thursday night, Harry Kane netted his 200th goal in his 300th game for Tottenham Hotspur as they won 3-1 at Ludogorets and Andrija Zivkovi scored twice as PAOK pulled off a surprise 4-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in Thursday’s early Europa League games.

England striker Kane headed home Lucas Moura’s corner after 13 minutes to set Spurs on course for a victory over the Bulgarians that put them second in Group J with six points after three games. Leaders Royal Antwerp play LASK later on Thursday.

In Greece, PAOK scored bounced back from a one-goal deficit with four second-half strikes to defeat Dutch visitors PSV 4-1 and go second in the table on five points, two behind leaders Granada, who won 2-0 at bottom side Omonia Nicosia.

AS Roma put in their most impressive performance of the Group A campaign with a 5-0 drubbing of Romania’s CFR Cluj, Borja Mayoral netting twice for the Italians.

A stoppage-time goal by Darwin Nunez snatched a 3-3 draw for 10-man Benfica at home to Scottish side Rangers in Group D. Rangers lead the group on goal difference from Benfica while third-placed Lech Poznan beat bottom side Standard Liege 3-1.

There were goals galore in Group C with leaders Slavia Prague beating French side Nice 3-2 at home while second-placed Bayer Leverkusen came back from a goal down to win 4-2 at bottom side Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Group F remains tight with AZ Alkmaar still top on goal difference despite losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad. Alkmaar, Sociedad and Italian side Napoli, who won 2-1 at bottom side Rijeka, all have six points after three games.

Arsenal host Norway’s Molde among other matches later on Thursday.

•Based on reports by BBC and Reuters. PHOTO: Kelechi Iheanacho celebrating one of his goals.

Source Daily sports

Posted November 6, 2020

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