A late fightback from Leicester City earned a 2-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven and the Foxes’ first ever European semi-final.
As a result, they’ll face Jose Mourinho’s side, Roma, following their victory over Bodo/Glimt, ensuring that Brendan Rodgers will come face to face with his former boss from their time together at Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers helped Leicester on their way to a first
After a 0-0 draw at home last week, Leicester had it all to do in the Netherlands as they looked to keep their European hopes alive, something that they managed with a late double from James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira.
Eran Zahavi looked like he’d sent PSV on their way with a tight-angled opener past a desperate Kasper Schmeichel inside half an hour, but Brendan Rodgers’ men weren’t finished.
The Foxes continued to battle through the quarter-final, and with 13 minutes to go, they turned the game on it’s head.
A brilliant leveller from the lively Maddison sent the away crowd into delirium, before an unexpected source decided the game when right-back Pereira crashed home the game’s winner.
The result means Leicester will stage their first ever European semi-final as they reach new ground in the final four of the Europa Conference League.
It could also be the side’s only shot of European football next season, currently mid-table in the Premier League with big rewards on offer for if they can go all the way in Europe this year.
Maddison was running things early on
Maddison looked bright early on, while Kelechi Iheanacho played in Harvey Barnes who sent his effort wide after just 15 minutes of the match.
The game’s first pivotal moment came after 27 minutes when Youri Tielemans gave the ball away on the edge of the Leicester penalty area, leading Mario Goetze to tee up Eran Zahavi who converted with a wonderful low effort from a tight angle.
Tielemans has been heavily linked with a move away from Leicester this summer with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United both said to be keen, but watching on for talkSPORT 2 was Matt Holland who described the error as ‘a silly mistake’.
He said: “We talked about Youri Tielamans and how good he is on the ball, but he plays a blind pass backwards and straight into the path of Zahavi. He gives it to Mario Goetze, back to Zahavi and from a tight angle there’s plenty to do.
Tieleman’s mistake could have been costly
“There’s only once place he can put it, into that far corner. Kaspar Schmeichel may be slightly late to react and slightly late getting down as it bobbles over his arm and into the bottom corner.
“The mistake from Tielemans has resulted in a PSV goal after a decent start for Leicester. The ball came to him and he just didn’t look. Instead of looking forward, he tried to play it back to the centre halves, into the path of Goetze.
“Leicester haven’t played badly but it’s a silly mistake that’s cost them.”
The Foxes had their opportunities to get back into the game, with Maddison’s hooked effort being cleared off the line shortly after Zahavi’s opener.
Patson Daka and Ademola Lookman were introduced at half-time as Leicester looked to find a way back into the game, and shortly after the hour mark Daka had one of the Foxes’ best chances after being played through on goal, however the forward dragged his effort harmlessly wide of the mark.
It was at that point when the travelling Leicester fans started to think that it might not be their night.