Staff Reporter.
Leicester’s winless start to their Europa League campaign continued with a limp defeat at Legia Warsaw, who collected a famous victory in Poland.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have started the season inconsistently and now have work to do in Group C following a defeat to go with their 2-2 draw at Napoli in the opening game.
Azerbaijan national Mahir Emreli scored the only goal in the 31st minute, outmuscling Daniel Amartey on the edge of the box before firing in a low finish via the foot of the post.
Leicester lacked rhythm but did have chances with Ayoze Perez screwing wide in the first half after being put through by Patson Daka.
Centre-half Jannik Vestergaard had a golden opportunity to equalise in the second half, but his header from four yards out was somehow kept out by Legia goalkeeper Cezary Miszta’s stunning reflex save.
The group’s other game was a crazy affair, with Spartak Moscow edging Napoli 3-2 in a feisty match featuring 12 yellow cards and two reds.
Quincy Promes made it 3-1 in the 90th minute and although Victor Osimhen pulled one back for Napoli four minutes later, the Serie A side could not find a leveller with 11 minutes added on.
Last season’s FA Cup winners Leicester are yet to get going this term, winning just two of their opening six Premier League games and finding life difficult in Europe.
A worry for Rodgers will be the lack of a cutting edge in front of goal, firing in 18 shots during the contest, but unable to find the net.
Kelechi Iheanacho was ruled out because of travel document issues and top scorer Jamie Vardy was left on the bench so £22m summer signing Daka led the line.
The Zambian arrived with an eye-catching reputation having scored 27 goals in 28 games last term to lead Red Bull Salzburg to a fourth consecutive Austrian league title.
But he is yet to get off the mark for the Foxes, despite having more efforts at goal (5) than any other player.
A header lacked power and was comfortable for Miszta and Daka was then found with a chipped ball by James Maddison – introduced on the hour mark – but the frontman miscued from 12 yards out.
Desperate to try to break his duck, Daka shinned an overhead kick off target from a promising position, while Maddison had a shot cleared off the line late on.
As Leicester poured forward in search of an elusive equaliser, Legia had two presentable opportunities late in the game.
But Lirim Kastrati’s drive was pushed onto the post by Kasper Schmeichel’s outstretched leg and former Southampton loanee Tomas Pekhart side-footed wide with the goal gaping.
Rodgers has much to ponder.
⏰ EARLY RESULTS ⏰
Top performance was from ______ #UEL
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 30, 2021
Meanwhile Glen Kamara was sent off as Rangers were left rooted to the bottom of group A with defeat away to Sparta Prague in the Europa League.
The Finnish midfielder was ordered off after picking up a second yellow card for leading with an elbow.
Sparta already led 1-0 at that point after David Hancko’s first-half header.
Rangers struggled to impose themselves on their Czech hosts on a difficult night for Steven Gerrard’s men which leaves them without a point.
Racism was a depressing backdrop to this game. Kamara had been racially abused just six months ago in a Europa League last-16 tie by Slavia’s Ondrej Kudela, with the Czech given a 10-game ban.
And the match was played in front of 10,000 children after Uefa relented on a stadium closure following racist chanting by Sparta fans towards Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni. Despite that, the Finn was still booed by the young crowd.