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Post by Football News on Oct 27, 2015 22:57:34 GMT
Hull 1-1 LeicesterHome team scorers Abel Hernandez 105 +0:17 Away team scorers Riyad Mahrez 100 Hull reached the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after overcoming Premier League high-fliers Leicester on penalties, not the first such success in this season’s competition for a side that needed a shoot-out to see off Accrington at the first hurdle. The back-up goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic was the hero, denying Riyad Mahrez – whose extra-time goal had been cancelled out by Abel Hernández – and David Meyler was left to strike home the decisive spot-kick against a much-changed Leicester. The hosts also made a string of changes and dominated the match for large parts, with Greg Luer, Ryan Taylor and Mo Diamé coming close before tempers frayed when Harry Maguire’s header was adjudged not to have crossed the line. Things became even more heated soon after extra time got under way as offside appeals against Jamie Vardy were ignored, allowing Mahrez, another substitute, to slot home. Anger quickly turned to relief, though, thanks to Hull’s own replacements, with Hernández turning home after Chuba Akpom’s shot was saved to take the match to penalties. Jakupovic saved the first of them and Claudio Ranieri’s men never got back on terms. There were vast changes to both line-ups and the game started with Andrej Kramaric – one of Leicester’s 10 alterations – coming close from distance. It proved one of few chances for the visitors as Hull dominated the first half, with Ritchie de Laet’s block preventing Luer from ending a lovely team move with an early goal. Shaun Maloney sent an acrobatic attempt into the side netting as the home side dictated the play, albeit without creating many clear-cut chances. Diamé almost made up for a wild, ballooned effort with a fizzing strike after half-time, before providing a cross to the back post, where Taylor’s header rippled the side-netting. Both sides sought to improve their chances of making a breakthrough by bringing strikers off the bench in the second half but it was the hosts’ centre-back Maguire that looked to have made a late breakthrough as Schwarzer fumbled his effort, only for the assistant to rule the ball had not crossed the line. It was a controversial moment that would have mattered little had Hernández beaten the veteran Australian minutes later, although the visitors threatened most towards the end of second half, with Mahrez, Vardy and Danny Drinkwater having efforts blocked. Extra time started with Akpom being booked for diving, a decision that infuriated Hull players and fans alike – anger that increased when an offside shout against Vardy was ignored and his shot was pushed into the path of Mahrez. Andy Robertson was booked for dissent but this tie was far from over, as Akpom got behind the Leicester back line and Schwarzer parried his shot into the path of Hernández. Marc Albrighton came close soon after but it was Hull that looked most likely to score, with Yohan Benaloune almost diverting a Hernández cross past Schwarzer, whose goal was being peppered by hopeful efforts. It was the other keeper, however, who was to make the difference. Guardian
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