Kelechi Iheanacho struck a 56th minute winner to secure a narrow Third Round away victory for Leicester against Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium in 2022-23 FA Cup.
Iheanacho smashed in a 56th minute winner via Jamie Vardy’s flick of Kasey McAteer’s pullback pass, as Leicester fought their way past League Two’s Gillingham in a closely fought contest.
The result meant that Leicester avoided a cupset and advanced to the Fourth Round for a fourth consecutive season, having last lost at this stage to Newport County – coincidentally also live on BBC One in January 2019.
As expected despite making eight changes, Leicester dominated the opening half-hour as their best chance fell to Youri Tielemans, who delivered a direct 12th minute cross forward for Vardy but Gillingham goalkeeper – Jake Turner was alert to block Vardy’s shot.
Gillingham meanwhile set out with a five-man defence who largely sat deep to frustrate the Foxes, yet managed to create some rare chances as Dom Jefferies broke forward on a seventh minute counter-attack, only for his shot to be saved by Daniel Iversen.
Shaun Williams – who was part of Millwall’s run to Quarter-Finals in 2016-17 FA Cup – meanwhile saw a 30th minute shot saved by Iversen, after he latched onto a loose ball during a pinball inside Leicester’s box.
Leicester though were unable to carve a way through the Gills’ resolute defence before half-time. whilst Williams saw another shot denied in the 40th minute by Iversen after he had latched onto a long throw-in.
Iheanacho wasted Leicester’s best chance on the stroke of half-time as he curled wide of the top-left corner, as neither team broke the deadlock heading into the break.
Upon the restart, Tielemans broke forward for Leicester but David Tutonda scrappily blocked the Belgian, only for Marc Albrighton to lob the ball towards goal and forced a swift reaction from Turner to prevent his tight shot dipping in beyond the goal line.
Cheye Alexander went close for the Gills with a 50th minute shot which flew wide of the bottom-right corner, having met a pullback cross.
Gillingham’s resistance was eventually broken six minutes later as Tielemans’ cross was deflected across for Kasey McAteer, who pulled back at left post via Vardy’s flick for Iheanacho to calmly fire the Foxes in front.
Turner soon afterwards crucially denied Iheanacho and Vardy to keep the League Two side in with a shot of earning a replay at the King Power Stadium.
Iheanacho however missed a further chance to extend Leicester’s winning margin as he fired a 76th minute shot wide across goal, having struggled to get a tighter finishing angle on his shot.
Brendan Rogers’ Foxes nevertheless cruised to victory to avoid a first Third Round exit in this competition since 2018-19 season, whilst Gillingham’s wait for a Fourth Round appearance since that same season now extends into a fifth season.
What’s Next?
Gillingham will now turn their attention to a crucial home clash against Hartlepool United at Priestfield Stadium in the race for League Two survival, which is scheduled for 3pm GMT on Saturday 14 January.
Leicester meanwhile visit Newcastle United on Tuesday 10 January live on Sky Sports in this season’s Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm GMT at St James’ Park.
Teams
Gillingham: Jake Turner, Cheye Alexander (Harriott 79′), Will Wright, Max Ehmer, Robbie McKenzie, David Tutonda (Mandron 85′), Shaun Williams, Alex MacDonald, Dom Jefferies (O’Keefe 70′), Hakeeb Adelakun, Scott Kashket
Substitutes: Tate Holtam, Ryan Law, Stuart O’Keefe, Olly Lee, Callum Harriott, Mikael Mandron
Leicester: Daniel Iversen, Marc Albrighton, Jannik Vestergaard, Caglar Soyuncu, Lewis Brunt, Kasey McAteer (Thomas 85′), Nampalys Mendy (Ndidi 81′), Youri Tielemans, Ayoze Perez, Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy (Daka 81′)
Substitutes: Alex Smithies, Timothy Castagne, Daniel Amartey, Wout Faes, Luke Thomas, Sammy Braybrooke, Wilfried Ndidi, Harvey Barnes, Patson Daka
Referee: Samuel Barrott
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