Leicester City defeated Bournemouth in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday evening to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Championship table-toppers more than matched their Premier League opposition and were well worth the victory, with Abdul Fatawu netting a sublime extra-time winner.
Enzo Maresca‘s side will have to wait until Wednesday evening when the draw is made to find out who they will meet in the last eight. City will be ball number three.
Leicester’s marvellous away performance on the south coast produced several talking points and we’ve picked out three things that we learnt in the cup clash.
Wanya Marcal a real talent
Wanya Marcal was making only his ninth senior appearance for The Foxes but looked like a well-seasoned winger out on the left.
Having featured more predominately earlier in the season, Marcal’s game time has been limited of late but he’s done his chances of making the first team no harm tonight.
The 21-year-old was on the pitch for the entirety of the 120-minute game and despite his legginess towards the end, he completed four successful dribbles, as per Sofascore, and was a constant thorn in the Bournemouth defence.
There were a few moments where he perhaps held on to the ball a little too long but notwithstanding that, his direct nature was a refreshing sight and one that will please Maresca.
Arjan Raikhy loves a tackle
Arjan Raikhy was another product of Leicester’s academy that featured in the 1-0 win. The midfield enforcer made his first senior start for the club and was not shy of getting stuck in.
Raikhy joined the East Midlanders last summer following his Aston Villa exit and has been on the fringes of the first team in recent weeks.
The 2002-born clearly loves a tackle and whilst he did commit three fouls, he did display a gritty edge and broke up play on a number of occasions.
With City a little light in midfield following Cesare Casadei’s January departure and Wilfred Ndidi’s injury, Raikhy could feature a lot more heading into the business end of the season.
Abdul Fatawu shows his class
Fatawu has enjoyed a productive season with City this term and is becoming a talismanic figure for Maresca.
The 19-year-old came on in the 64th minute and made an immediate impact, constantly driving at The Cherries’ defence.
Just before the extra-time break, Fatawu picked up the ball on the right and cut inside onto his favoured left-footed before bending the ball ferociously past Mark Travers into the top corner. A moment of magic from the Ghanaian ace.
The jet-heeled wide player, who has laid on nine assists this season, took his goal tally to four in City colours.