Leicester City of England attacker, Kelechi ‘Kels’ Iheanacho has received words of applause from his club’s coach, Brendan Rodgers, following his performance and goal in their latest pre-season game, megasportsarena.com reports.
The former Columbus Crew of USA and Manchester City of England youngster was again on top of his game, as he helped Leicester eke out a 3-3 draw with Queens Park Rangers with a well-taken penalty.
Aside Iheanacho’s goal, Rodgers also noted how the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup most valuable player combined well with The Foxes’ Zambian new arrival, Patson Daka, and the gaffer hailed them both for their neat combinations in Saturday’s game.
Leicester will next take on Villarreal at King Power Stadium on Wednesday before they play the Community Shield fixture against Manchester City on Saturday, ahead of which The Foxes’ boss was full of praise for Iheanacho and Daa, after they both scored in the pre-season game
Rodgers labeled Daka as a ‘natural striker’ and praised him for his keen understanding and deft combinations with Iheanacho, as the y both helped their team to storm back from behind to get the draw against QPR.
The Foxes found themselves trailing at half-time, after Charlie Austin scored for QPR in the 45th minute, and they were 2-0 down courtesy of a 55th-minute strike from Yoann Barbet, but they started their comeback in the 75th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired home a loose ball.
That helped to reduce the deficit before Daka, who signed for Leicester from Red Bull Salzburg of Austria earlier this summer, slotted home his first goal for the 2016 English Premier League champions and last season’s FA Cup winners, to make it 2-2
Rob Dickie again put QPR in the lead with eight minutes left on the clock and, as Leicester looked like they would suffer defeat at Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Loftus Road, Daka won a penalty after being fouled by Seny Dieng, and up-stepped Iheanacho to make it 3-3.
In the aftermath, Rodgers hailed Iheanacho’s goal and admitted he was thrilled by Daka’s deft touches and al-round performance, saying the Zambian lad was calm when slotting home and amazing when winning the penalty and further raved about his partnership with the Nigerian.
Rodgers told the club’s official website: “As soon as (Daka’s) in that goalscoring position, he’s so calm and not even thinking, even though he’s right-footed, he just slots it away with his left foot. He won the penalty, so it was a good performance by him.
“You see that natural goalscoring instinct and then his speed to get to the ball for the penalty, I never thought he was going to get there, but he showed great pace.
“I think that’s what he is, he’s a goalscorer. I thought him and Kels combined very, very well. They were looking for each other and some of their play was exceptional.
“The goalscorers, I think when it hits the back of the net, it gives them confidence and gives them that energy.
“Kels gets his one from the penalty and it was, overall, very good. QPR are a good side. You can see they’re a little bit ahead of us in terms of fitness so far. But overall, I was delighted with the game.”
