BY Jonathan Ledger
Kelechi Iheanacho scored a penalty kick as Leicester City defeated Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.
The English season curtain-raiser pitted Leicester City, the FA Cup winners, against Manchester City, English Premier League (EPL) champions — and the 24-year-old’s well-placed spot-kick proved the winner.
It is Leicester City’s second Community Shield victory, albeit their first in 50 years.
A youthful Man City squad was paraded by Pep Guardiola, who handed starts to youngsters, Cole Palmer and Samuel Edozie, while Jamie Vardy led the line for Leicester.
Man City started the brighter side with Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick tipped over by Kasper Schmeichel. Riyad Mahrez then blazed high and had another shot deflected onto the roof of the net minutes later.
Vardy had the best opportunity of the first half but his effort on the stroke of halftime was turned onto the crossbar by Zack Steffen, the City goalkeeper.
A tepid second half came to life just before the hour mark when Mahrez, sent clear on goal from the halfway line, blasted wide, while James Maddison’s low shot squirmed wide.
Jack Grealish, City’s £100 million signing, came on to a rapturous welcome from the stadium, while Kelechi Iheanacho also joined with over ten minutes left on the clock.
The Nigerian international would win a penalty kick off Nathan Ake and stepped up to convert the spot-kick against his former club on 89 minutes.
The Midlands club held on to secure only their third win against Man City outside the EPL competition since 1968.
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