BEVERLY HILLS, May 19, (THEWILL) – Leicester City’s Super Eagles’ forward Kelechi Iheanacho’s already impressive season became even more so, when playing against Chelsea for the second time in as many games and, on as an inspired substitute by manager Brendan Rodgers, the striker found the back of the net to set a new individual English Premier League record.
Having previously scored on every day of the week except on a Tuesday, Iheanacho came off the bench in place of James Maddison on the stroke of the hour mark to bury a one-time shot from a Wilfred Ndidi pass beyond Edouard Mendy, in the Chelsea goal, to complete a goal for every day of the week.
By so doing, Iheanacho therefore became the first player ever in Premier League history to pull the feat of scoring on all seven days of the week in the same season. The stats reveal that he had previously scored one goal on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with two on a Wednesday and five on his most favourite day of goals, Sunday.
Inspiring as his efforts were, they proved too little too late for the Foxes. Chelsea exacted their vengeance for the FA Cup defeat and doubled the payback by leapfrogging Iheanacho’s side into third for an opportunity to guarantee a top four finish in a fierce match that was characterised by a full squad brawl sparked by a Ricardo Pereira-Antonio Rudiger standoff in extra time.
Victory for Leicester could have seen them punch their ticket to elite European football next season for only the second time in the Premier League era and the late run from a rejuvenated Liverpool could have meant nothing to them. But, perhaps, still hung over from the FA cup celebrations, they lost and will now have to be wary especially with Liverpool having a match in hand and higher goal difference this close to the end of the season.
The implications are dire for Leicester and though they had already beaten Chelsea twice this season, with a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture back in January before last weekend’s FA Cup triumph, they could do not the league double over the Blues to re-enact their 2000/2001 record in front of a set of supporters who were allowed into the stands for the first time since December, when a tier-based stadium attendance was suspended.
By the interval Chelsea’s domination of the game had led to two disallowed goals, one for offside and another for handball, which the fans did not agree with and made that clear with their booing. Rudiger finally scored a goal that was allowed and Jorginho sealed the win from the penalty spot six minutes after Iheanacho came off the bench.
Ten minutes later, Iheanacho halved the deficit with his record-setting finishing but it did not count for the points Leicester needed. Chelsea had done enough to inch past the Foxes to third with Leicester a point behind in fourth and Liverpool in a sustained chase when they face Burnley in their next match that could see them also overtake Leicester.
That will set the stage for an unfortunate case is déjà vu for Iheanacho’s side. The implication is that they will no longer be in control of their top four fate and if Liverpool also goes on to win their last fixture of the season, a home tie against Crystal Palace, the Foxes would have thrown away a Champions League spot for two consecutive seasons.
Meanwhile, long may Kelechi’s record setting in the Premiership last as he adds this record of scoring on everyday of the week in one season to his growing list which includes: the player with the first goal awarded by video assistant referee (VAR) in England and the first fourth substitute in the FA Cup.
About the Author
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.
