Kelechi Iheanacho nets 11th PL goal of the season in Leicester City’s shock defeat to Newcastle
Kelechi Iheanacho was on the scoresheet as Leicester City’s top-four ambitions were dealt a blow with a shock 4-2 defeat to Newcastle at the King Power Stadium.
The Nigeria international, who has been nominated for Premier League Player of the Month award for April, scored late on to take his Premier League tally to 11 for the season.
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Newcastle led by 2-0 at the break through goals from Joe Willock and Paul Dummet. That lead was increased to 4-0 after Callum Wilson netted a brace in the space of nine minutes — with the second coming in the 73rd minute.
10 – Kelechi Iheanacho has scored 10 Premier League goals since the start of March, the most of any player. The only player to score more goals over this period in Europe's top five leagues is fellow Nigerian Simy (12 in Serie A). Super.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2021
Marc Albrighton pulled one back in the 80th minute before Ayoze Perez set up Iheanacho to score his side’s second of the evening three minutes from time to give The Foxes hopes of a comeback, but Steve Bruce’s side clung on to the two-goal advantage and saw out the remaining minutes to seal a win.
Kelechi gets a second for Leicester. 4-2.#LeiNew pic.twitter.com/NhTSuG7wsN
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 7, 2021
Perez slipped the ball through to the Nigerian following a poor headed clearance. The 24-year-old sprinted into the penalty area, then created space for himself before beating Martin Dubravka at his near post.
Iheanacho has been in fine goalscoring for the Foxes since Brendan Rodgers switched to a new style that sees the former Manchester City forward play alongside Jamie Vardy in attack.
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The U17 World Cup winner has now netted 15 goals in his last 16 appearances and 10 since March for the King Power Stadium outfit.
Apart from his Nigeria team-mate Simeon Nwankwo, no other player in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more over this period.
The goal against the Magpies took his 2021 tally to 15. No Premier League player has scored more goals across all competitions this year than Iheanacho.