Leicester 4-1 Randers: Player ratings as Foxes take Europa Conference League initiative
By Sean Walsh
Leicester overcame a short-lived scare to beat Danish side Randers 4-1 and take control of their Europa Conference League knockout round play-off.
Brendan Rodgers' men were utterly dominant at the King Power Stadium and take a commanding lead into next Thursday's second leg.
The Foxes made a fast start and could have had a first-minute lead when Harvey Barnes long-range effort fell to Ademola Lookman, but the winger couldn't quite bring the ball under control to punish Randers.
Tosin Kehinde had a decent sight of goal in the opening exchanges, but his stinging strike was well held by Kasper Schmeichel.
Leicester came close to taking the lead when Youri Tielemans' searching cross was met by the head of Patson Daka, but the Zambian's glancing header sailed just over the top.
Daka was slipped through by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall moments later, but his first touch let him down and goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren was able to sweep up.
Academy product Dewsbury-Hall was then denied the opener by the feet of Carlgren as Leicester maintained their fast start, and eventually took the lead midway through the first half after Wilfred Ndidi swept in following a corner.
A mazing run from Barnes nearly resulted in the hosts' second with Carlgren again coming to Randers' rescue, before the Swede's right foot was all that stopped Dewsbury-Hall from grabbing his second ever goal in a Leicester shirt.
Caglar Soyuncu's half-volley was the next to be kept out by Carlgren, and it looked for all the world that Daniel Amartey would head in the rebound, but somehow he couldn't keep his effort on target.
But Randers equalised against the run of play on the stroke of half-time. Kehinde took advantage of a slip by Marc Albrighton to race in behind and square for Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati to slot past Schmeichel.
Leicester re-took the lead just after the interval when Barnes took advantage of confusion in the Randers area to scoop over Carlgren and put the hosts back in front.
Daka made it three soon after when he was quickest to react to Tielemans' initial effort, though replays suggested he may have been an inch offside.
Dewsbury-Hall finally grabbed a deserved goal after great work by Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho on a quick counter, and the Nigerian forward nearly made it five almost immediately from the resulting kick-off.
Substitute James Maddison worryingly went down off the ball and required lengthy treatment before being hauled off again.
The selfless Lookman came close to adding a goal of his own in injury time with a close-range header but he only found the side-netting and Leicester had to settle for a three-goal lead to take to Denmark next week.
Leicester City player ratings vs Randers - Europa Conference League
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Kasper Schmeichel (GK) - 5/10 - Made a good early save to deny Kehinde but didn't exactly inspire confidence in the Leicester goal.
Daniel Amartey (RB) - 6/10 - Solid enough but somehow missed a chance to double Leicester's lead before Randers' equaliser.
Jannik Vestergaard (CB) - 6/10 - Well, at least he wasn't of detriment to Leicester like he was at the weekend.
Caglar Soyuncu (CB) - 8/10 - A commanding performance from the Turkey international, reminiscent of his 2019/20 season. Picked up an injury late on and Leicester ended the night with 10-men having made all five substitutions.
Marc Albrighton (LB) - 4/10 - Poor Albrighton didn't even do much wrong apart from the slip in the build-up to Randers' goal, but sadly that was significant.
2. Midfielders
Wilfred Ndidi (DM) - 8/10 - Solid in midfield and grabbed a goal before earning a half-hour rest.
Youri Tielemans (CM) - 8/10 - Unlucky not to have found a goal or assist of his own.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CM) - 9/10 - A joy to watch in midfield, spreading play and releasing Leicester's exciting front three on several occasions.
3. Forwards
Ademola Lookman (RW) - 9/10 - Keen to get on the ball throughout and was rewarded with a pair of assists.
Patson Daka (CF) - 8/10 - A nuisance that Randers simply couldn't keep quiet.
Harvey Barnes (LW) - 9/10 - Barnes was nearly flawless and yet you still felt that he was playing at walking pace.
4. Substitutes
Kelechi Iheanacho (CF, 64' for Daka) - 7/10 - Won the ball back in midfield in the lead up to Leicester's fourth.
James Maddison (AM, 64' for Ndidi) - 6/10 - Brought off not long after coming on after going down off the ball.
Hamza Choudhury (DM, 83' for Maddison) - N/A
Boubakary Soumare (CM, 83' for Dewsbury-Hall) - N/A
Ayoze Perez (LW, 83' for Barnes) - N/A