Match report as Wesley Fofana scores the crucial goal for Leicester in their 3-2 aggregate win over Rennes; Foxes lost 2-1 on the night and had to battle hard to prevent French side forcing extra-time; draw for quarter-finals is on Friday
Thursday 17 March 2022 23:26, UK
Wesley Fofana scored his first goal for Leicester on his return from a broken leg to send the Foxes into the Europa Conference League quarter-finals - although Brendan Rodgers' side had to hang on desperately for a 3-2 aggregate victory after losing 2-1 on the night at Rennes.
Twenty-one-year-old Fofana was cruelly sidelined in pre-season during a friendly with Villarreal but marked his surprise return to the starting XI with a brilliant glancing header from a corner (51) - the goal which would prove to be decisive in this dramatic, brilliant tie.
When that effort cancelled out Benjamin Bourigeaud's early opener (8) it seemed Leicester had regained control against an energetic Rennes side, who are just a point off second in Ligue 1 and who were roared on by an incredible home support.
However, substitute Flavien Tait set up a grandstand finish when he drove past Kasper Schmeichel after a neat lay-off from Serhou Guirassy with 15 minutes to play.
Leicester were on the ropes in those final stages, with Schmeichel producing an unbelievable save to deny Guirassy from three yards, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall somehow diverting a cross away from the striker as he was about to shoot again from close range, and Baptiste Santamaria drilling just wide of the post 15 yards out.
Even with the final move of the match, Rennes seemed on the brink of forcing extra-time - and were incensed when referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos waved away their penalty appeals after Harvey Barnes headed a free-kick onto Dewsbury-Hall's arm in the Leicester box.
In the aftermath, Rennes' subs and coaching staff charged onto the pitch to surround the officials. However, Leicester had done enough.
Leicester lost Marc Albrighton and Wilfred Ndidi to injury during the contest but are rewarded for their brilliant, battling, backs-to-the-wall effort with just their second-ever quarter-final appearance on the European stage, with the draw to come on Friday.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers on BT Sport: "Our [use of the ball], especially in the first half, was nowhere near what I'd expect. But what we showed tonight was real character. Especially with lots of players missing, and lots of young players, playing at this level for the first time, it's character building for them.
"Rennes are a good side so getting through in the end was a fantastic feeling. We knew they'd make a fast start and come after us and they get the early goal as well but we showed a good mentality and good concentration level.
"Fofana is an amazing player. That's what top players do. He's only been back training a few weeks but [top players] want to go and head it, with the determination, that's something we've missed a lot this season, someone with that mentality and that's a top player's mentality. Such a massive prospect. Now we just need to try to build his fitness up. He was exceptional on the night."
Rodgers on Leicester's injuries: "Marc [Albrighton] felt his groin. Ndidi, it was a block tackle, his medial ligament in his knee, we'll see how that is. But it has been us for most of the season. We lost a couple of players just before we were travelling as well but the guys showed tremendous spirit to get through the tie."
The Europa Conference League quarter-final and semi-final draws will follow the Champions League ones on Friday, March 18 at 12.30pm UK time, with the balls being drawn out at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Leicester return to Premier League action on Sunday when they host Brentford at the King Power Stadium at 2pm. Rennes host Metz at 2pm in Ligue 1 on the same day.
