December 23, (THEWILL) – In a thrilling Carabao Cup quarter-final, Liverpool defeated Leicester 5-4 on penalties after Takumi Minamino scored a last-gasp equaliser to draw the score 3-3 at the end of regulation time.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got a goal back for the hosts after Jamie Vardy’s double and James Maddison smashed home from 25 yards just past the half-hour mark to put the Foxes in front.
Vardy was inches away from putting the game out of reach and completing a hat-trick before the break when he hit the post with Caoimhin Kelleher, the stand-in goalkeeper, very well beaten.
At halftime, Diogo Jota came on for the mostly second-string Reds and scored to cut the lead to one goal. Minamino’s dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time rewarded Liverpool’s possession domination, forcing extra-time and a shootout.
Then, Caoimhin Kellher saved penalties from Luke Thomas and Ryan Bertrand in the shoot-out, and Jota made no mistake in propelling Liverpool into the semi-finals after Takumi Minamino hit the bar with the first chance to win the game.
It was pulsating to the end. Maybe it was because the supporters in attendance were fanatical, but it was a great cup-tie in every respect. Maybe they were just glad to be at a game where a lockdown was a possibility.
For whatever reason, the crowd was energised, and this was reflected in both teams’ energy levels, resulting in a fast-paced contest. The fact that Leicester went ahead added to the spectacle, and as Liverpool attempted a comeback, like they have so many times on Anfield nights, the tension grew even higher, leading up to the unbelievable finish, when even the most ardent Koppite would have given up hope.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
