Zorya Luhansk 1 Leicester 0: Soyuncu injured early on return as Foxes concede late in dull Europa League display

LEICESTER CITY endured a night to forget as Caglar Soyuncu lasted just 17 minutes on his return from injury.

And then Zorya Luhansk substitute Allahyar Sayyadmanesh rubbed salt into the Foxes’ wounds with a late winner in Ukraine.

Caglar Soyuncu’s comeback from an abductor injury lasted just 17 minutes in UkraineCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Zorya Luhansk substitute Allahyar Sayyadmanesh scored the winner six minutes from timeCredit: AFP or licensors

Leicester knew victory would confirm their spot at the top of Europa League Group G.

And Brendan Rodgers was able to bring back Soyuncu, Wilfred Ndidi and – for the first time since March – Ricardo Pereira into the fold following long-term injuries.

But Turkish international Soyuncu lasted just 17 minutes before hobbling off clutching the groin area that forced him to miss eight weeks.

And should that be a reoccurring problem that puts him back on the sidelines, it will come as a hammer blow to Rodgers whose side have been plagued by injuries this term.

Ricardo was replaced at half-time and ten minutes later Ndidi followed him off in what appeared to be planned changes.

Wesley Fofana, who came on for Soyuncu, had a glorious chance to open the scoring with a free header from a Cengiz Under free-kick but miscued it well wide.

James Maddison came on with 12 minutes to go and instantly made an impact for the lacklustre Foxes.

First he linked up well with James Justin but the full-back could only find the side netting.

Then the ex-Norwich man had his own effort at goal, trying to wrong-foot Nikola Vasilj but the Zorya goalkeeper saved with his foot.

Sayyadmanesh then arrived unmarked at the back post to fire home the ball after it was slid across the face of goal expertly by right-back Denys Favorov.

Under squandered a one-on-one chance in the first half but was City’s most creative player on the night before Maddison’s introduction.

And it was the on-loan winger who went so close to grabbing a last-gasp equaliser when Vasilj made a spectacular save to turn away his effort from distance nestling into the top corner.

Cengiz Under was Leicester’s biggest creative threat going forward on the right wingCredit: Reuters

Ricardo Pereira played his first senior match since March and lasted 45 minutesCredit: Reuters

Wilfred Ndidi was another Leicester player making his long-awaited return from injuryCredit: AP:Associated Press

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk