LEICESTER battled to the end but were forced to surrender three crucial points to Legia, the Polish Army’s team.
Roared on by a partisan crowd, Legia’s players produced a performance which kept them on top of Group C thanks to Mahir Emreli’s 10th goal of the season.
The visitors did not quite run up the white flag but their fans will demand to know why Brendan Rodgers kept his big guns on the bench until the real damage was done.
Even Jamie Vardy needs more than eight minutes to work his magic and the Foxes small band of travelling fans showed their frustration at the final whistle, gesturing to some of their players, who again underperformed.
Rodgers will argue he was without suspended lynchpin Wilfred Ndidi following his red card against Napoli, while striker Kelechi Iheanacho was grounded by Polish border guards following an embarrassing red-tape wrangle.
But it was Jonny Evans’ absence through illness, which would have concerned him most as Leicester simply don’t look the same without his calming influence at the back.
Last year’s FA Cup winners have only managed one clean sheet in six Premier League and two Europa League games this season – and that was on the opening day of the season at home to Wolves.
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There were signs of early nerves in front of 30,000 boisterous Poles when Caglar Soyuncu gifted the ball to Legia under no pressure whatsoever.
Mattias Johansson almost made the big Turkish defender pay for his sloppiness but Daniel Amartey blocked the Swede’s shot.
At the other end, Legia’s teenage keeper Cezary Miszta – replacing injured veteran Artur Borux – himself appeared a bag of nerves.
He failed to deal with a couple of inswinging corners from Dewsbury-Hall – missing the second entirely.
Legia demonstrated their growing confidence when midfield playmaker Bartosz Slisz pinged an ambitious effort just wide from 25 yards.
And two minutes later, the Poles’ pressure paid off as they snatched the breakthrough goal to send their rowdy fans berserk.
Azerbaijan dangerman Mahir Emreli outmuscled Amartey and fired in a low shot which crept agonisingly over the line as Schmeichel stood rooted to the spot.
Leicester tried to respond and should have equalised just before the break when Ayoze Perez squandered a stunning Youri Tielmans pass.
Urged on by around 800 travelling fans, the Foxes pushed hard after the break and Perez had the ball in the net within three minutes of the restart from a corner.
But the Croatian referee ruled it out after spotting some grappling in the box.
Rodgers eventually turned to his bench, sending on James Maddison and Harvey Barnes – then Ademola Lookman and finally Vardy as he went for broke.
But the damage was already done.
Daka thumped a scissor-kick over and Maddison had a shot cleared off the line by Mateusz Wietska.
But the Poles should have put the game beyond doubt when sub Lirim Kastrati danced through, only to hit the post with the goal gaping.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
