By Amaechi Agbo

Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheancho won the Man of the Match, MOTM award after his two goals and an assist helped Liecester City defeat Manchester United 3-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

The former Manchester City player was a thorn in the defence of United who struggled to cage him and his marauding partner, Jamie Vardy.

Leicester City reached their first FA Cup semi-final for 39 years with a fully deserved win over Manchester United at King Power Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers’ side will face Southampton at Wembley with Chelsea and Manchester City meeting in the other semi-final.

Leicester, who lost to eventual winners Tottenham in the 1982 semi-final, were the more vibrant and positive team against off-colour United as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once again tasted defeat in the latter stages of a cup competition, his ploy of resting the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw failing to produce the desired result.

The Foxes’ hero was in-form striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who struck twice and now has nine goals in nine games.

He took advantage of Fred’s awful backpass to round Dean Henderson to score in the 24th minute after the hapless Brazilian was played into trouble by captain Harry Maguire.

Mason Greenwood crowned a crisp United move to equalise before half-time but Youri Tielemans restored Leicester City’s lead with a fine low shot seven minutes after the break before Iheanacho took advantage of shocking marking at a free-kick to head in Leicester’s third after 78 minutes.

Injuries have robbed Leicester of the creative edge provided by James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, as well as the defensive excellence of James Justin, but they still had too much for miserable Manchester United here.

And it was fitting that the two players who got the goals to secure that precious semi-final place, and only their second win over United in 23 years, were Iheanacho and Tielemans – the Foxes’ two most influential performers.

Iheanacho has had mixed fortunes since his £25m move from Manchester City in August 2017 but it is testimony to the player’s own attitude and persistence, alongside the patience and coaching of manager Rodgers, that he has re-emerged as such an influential figure.

A fact Rodgers could not resist in the post match conference as he praised the Nigerian international for his new form

“Kelechi has always contributed. Maybe his confidence was lower but he works so hard every day and always comes in and gives his all.

“You see his confidence now. He’s at the top of his game. It’s a different structure [up front]. Kelechi is probably best with someone up there with him. Those two are working very well,” Rodgers said.

Kelechi Iheanacho has scored 16 goals in 22 starts in English domestic cup competitions, including 11 in 11 in the FA Cup.

He has scored 13 goals in 18 FA Cup games, the most of any player in the competition since making his debut in January 2016.

Leicester City will now face Southampton – the team they beat 9-0 at St Mary’s last season – but the prize at stake is now so enticing it is unlikely there will be a hint of complacency from Rodgers and his players.