VAR helps Leicester advance to FA Cup 4th round

LONDON: Leicester made history as English football’s first beneficiaries of the Video Assistant Referee system after the replay technology was used to award their second goal in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Fleetwood on Tuesday.

When Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho ran onto a Riyad Mahrez pass to slot home in the 77th minute of the third round replay, his strike was initially ruled out for offside.But after a short delay while the attack was being analysed by the VAR assistant Mike Jones, the decision was changed — replays showed Nigeria’s Iheanacho was just onside — and referee Jon Moss awarded a goal.

The VAR system was first used in England earlier this month for Brighton’s FA Cup third round tie against Crystal Palace and the League Cup semi-final first leg between Chelsea and Arsenal.

However, this was the first time it had actually been needed to reverse a decision.Former Manchester City youngster Iheanacho had already put Leicester ahead in the 43rd minute at the King Power Stadium, running onto Islam Slimani’s pass and firing home. Leicester’s reward for a comfortable win against their third tier opponents is a trip to Peterborough, also of League One, in the fourth round.

Elsewhere, Cardiff set up a fourth round clash with Premier League leaders Manchester City as the Championship side won 4-1 in their replay at fourth tier Mansfield.West Ham needed a goal late in extra-time from Reece Burke to clinch a 1-0 win over third tier Shrewsbury at the London Stadium. Hammers boss David Moyes suffered one of the worst defeats of his career at the hands of Shrewsbury when he was in charge of Everton. But Moyes avoided more FA Cup misery against the minnows thanks to young defender Burke, who slammed in his first goal for the club with only eight minutes left before a penalty shoot-out.

In the fourth round, West Ham will play Wigan or Bournemouth, whose replay is set for Wednesday. Championship sides Reading, 3-0 winners against Stevenage, and Sheffield Wednesday, who beat Carlisle 2-0, will meet in the fourth round.