Manchester United had rarely enjoyed a Schmeichel blunder so much. It was the 98th minute of the final game of last season when Kasper Schmeichel failed to dribble the ball past Jesse Lingard and the substitute slotted the ball into the empty net.
Leicester 0 United 2; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were bound for the Champions League and Leicester, ever-presents in the top four since August, finished fifth.
There is a growing threat that history will repeat itself. Not for Lingard; that may forever remain his last goal for his first club. Nor for United, already guaranteed a top-four finish. But for Leicester, the pacesetters who may be caught on the line once again.
They have been in the Champions League places after 69 of the last 71 Premier League games; it will become 70 of 72 on Tuesday but as their last three games are against United, Chelsea and Tottenham, they could soon be leapfrogged.
Friday's shambolic 4-2 defeat to Newcastle had unwanted parallels with last summer's 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth; it was also Leicester's 35th league game and looked the banker in their run-in. Then Jonny Evans scored an own goal. This time around, he was injured in the warm-up. "I have always said he is the brain in our defence," Brendan Rodgers said on Friday.
Minus Evans, Caglar Soyuncu turned in a sadly brainless performance against Newcastle; it felt a sequel to his sending-off against Bournemouth. He will be charged with bringing more reassurance and reliability at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Soyuncu’s anti-climactic ending to last season is another unfortunate precedent. Then Leicester finished without him, Ben Chilwell, James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira.
Now Harvey Barnes, James Justin and perhaps Evans will not play again. Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans’ form tailed off last season. Now Jamie Vardy only has two goals in 23 games. Pereira has not got back to his best after injury.
Leicester 3 United 1: FA Cup quarter-final player ratings
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LEICESTER CITY RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel, 6 -- Hesitated slightly when a seemingly innocuous cross was flapped away for a corner, and although he didn’t have a great deal to do, the Dane could do nothing about Greenwood’s swept finish for 1-1. EPA -
Timothy Castagne, 6 -- Could perhaps have reacted quicker to the loose ball that Mason Greenwood dispatched to make the scores level, but the Belgian was busy on the overlap and gave opposite number Aaron Wan-Bissaka plenty to think about. AFP -
Caglar Soyuncu, 7 -- The hosts had to withstand waves of United pressure as the visitors poured forward in search of goals but Soyuncu stood firm and didn’t put a foot wrong throughout. A brilliant tackle on Greenwood in the 71st minute was a particular highlight. Reuters -
Jonny Evans, 8 -- Had United forward Anthony Martial firmly in his back pocket in what was an excellent, commanding display from the former Red. Booked for clipping Fernandes as the United sub looked to spread the play during a counterattack. AFP -
Wesley Fofana, 7 -- Continues to look a real talent but wasn’t convincing when Paul Pogba rolled his compatriot in the build-up to United’s equaliser just before half time. The quieter of the three Leicester centre-backs aside from that but went about his business effectively and with a degree of elegance. AFP -
Marc Albrighton, 6 -- Not quite as effective on his flank as his counterpart Castagne on the other wing but the Englishman plugged away and wasn’t afraid to do the dirty work in his own defensive third. Booked for kicking the ball away needlessly in the second half. AFP -
Youri Tielemans, 8 -- Some good pressure off the ball forced the crucial mistake from Fred that gifted his side the opener. He then made the breakthrough in the second half as he played a neat one-two with Iheanacho before driving towards the box and firing a well-placed effort into the bottom corner to restore Leicester’s lead. Reuters -
Wilfred Ndidi, 7 -- Typically alert to snuff out any embers of danger that threatened to manifest into penetrative United attacks. Comfortably one of the best in his position in Europe and didn’t do his burgeoning reputation any harm today. AFP -
Ayoze Perez, 6 -- Wasn’t quite in the thick of the game at times but when he did have the ball he looked dangerous and looks at home in a central role behind two strikers. There were no big moments, but it was a decent display from the Spaniard, which came to an end in the 73rd minute when he was replaced by Dennis Praet. AFP -
Jamie Vardy, 6 -- Peeled away onto the Leicester left as he looked to find space but didn’t really test Dean Henderson with anything particularly dangerous despite a handful of opportunities to do so, including a guilt-edged chance just before the hour when he was clean through but dragged wide. Replaced by Hamza Choudhury for the final eight minutes. Reuters -
Kelechi Iheanacho, 8 -- Made no mistake when he capitalised on sloppy play from Fred to round Henderson and put the hosts ahead midway through the first half. He then combined brilliantly with Tielemans for the second before nodding home at the back post to seal the Foxes’ place in the final four. Reuters -
SUB: Dennis Praet (Perez, 73’) N/A – The Belgian didn’t really get into the game, but his creative prowess wasn’t particularly needed, with his side sitting prettily in the lead. AFP -
SUB: Hamza Choudhury (Vardy, 83’) N/A – Came on to add some steel in the Leicester midfield and played his part in sealing the win. AFP -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson 6. In form and parried a snap shot from Vardy. Could do little for opening goal which prevented another clean sheet. Couldn’t do much for the two goals which followed either as he conceded three for the first time for United. AFP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6. Pressed hard by Castagne who closed him down and pressed him back. By far the highest number of touches of any United player – which showed how much the defence was under pressure. Reuters -
Harry Maguire 5. Blocked a Vardy shot and then gave Fred a poor pass which the midfielder messed up. Then booked for a foul on Iheanacho as he had a bad first half against his former club. Easily bypassed by Vardy who then had a free shot on goal after 58 minutes. Reuters -
Victor Lindelof 6. In form and fine against Vardy, who wasn’t at his best. Shame for him and his team that the rest of the Leicester team were. Reuters -
Alex Telles 7. Smart defending against Iheanacho after four minutes and United looked most threatening with Telles and Pogba down the left. Lashed a shot across goal as United responded to Leicester taking the lead again. Unfortunate to be substituted. AFP -
Fred 3. Sloppy action led to Leicester’s first main attack, then made another error and then gifted Leicester a first goal. Holding your hands up doesn’t suffice. Did little to prevent Leicester’s second and gave the ball away as United had a 4 vs 3 attack. His worst game in a red shirt. Reuters -
Nemanja Matic 5. Not error prone like Fred, but easily bypassed for Leicester’s second and United’s static midfield was outclassed. Couldn’t complain about being substituted – though he may have wondered why it wasn’t the man next to him who went off. AFP -
Donny Van de Beek 5. Continued his run of starting every FA Cup game this season. Cleverly left Pogba’s cross for Greenwood to score and did OK but didn’t impact on the game enough. He’s short of match practice but he’s not going to get selected if he doesn’t do more. AFP -
Mason Greenwood 6. Needed that equaliser against the run of play as much as his team. It was a tidy left foot strike after 38 minutes and his first goal since against Liverpool in the fourth round. AFP -
Paul Pogba 6. First start in six weeks and set up the equaliser in a rare first half attack from United. Came off just before the hour. Was never going to play for 90. United need him fit and in-form as soon as possible. Reuters -
Anthony Martial 5. Often isolated, often out of position and now out of the FA Cup as United’s 29-game domestic unbeaten away run came to and end. Been a big disappointment this season. Reuters -
SUB: Luke Shaw 6. On for Telles after 64 minutes in a quadruple substitution. The man he replaced hadn’t done badly, unlike some of the others who had their chance. AFP -
SUB: Bruno Fernandes 6. On for Van de Beek. A fine 87th minute free-kick was well saved by Schmeichel. AFP -
SUB: Edinson Cavani 5. On Pogba after 64. Slipped from a man who could have provided a major impetus for United’s season to a stop-starter who looks unhappy with his lot. AFP -
SUB: Scott McTominay 4. On for Matic after 64. Booked but will be remembered for misjudging the ball at the back post which led to Leicester’s third. He’d given away the free kick in the first place. Reuters -
SUB: Amad Diallo N/A. On for Fred after 84. One for the future. Shame there are not more players for now. AFP
Once again, their fate could be determined by the stand-ins. Wes Morgan, Luke Thomas and Hamza Choudhury started against United last July. George Hirst, who is now on loan at Rotherham, was sent on in a final throw of the dice.
There had been the sense that Leicester have had more strength in depth this season but it faces further examination. Rodgers has adapted intelligently to their absentees. But the 3-5-2 that has enabled Kelechi Iheanacho to partner Vardy has worked less well of late.
They have conceded first in their last three games, even though their opponents were Crystal Palace, Southampton and Newcastle.
Chances have been squandered. Fortune favoured them when Southampton were wrongly reduced to 10 men in the 10th minute (Jannik Vestergaard’s red card was subsequently rescinded). It may do again.
Solskjaer has vowed to field a weakened team; those who have started both against Roma and Aston Villa are less likely to begin tonight's game. It could spare Leicester a date with Bruno Fernandes, while their former defender Harry Maguire is injured anyway.
And they have fond memories of their last meeting with a below-strength United side. "The last time we met, we knocked them out of the FA Cup," remembered Ndidi. It was only in March. Leicester's outstanding away record, featuring 10 wins and a 5-2 thrashing of Manchester City at the Etihad, ought to offer more optimism.
But United made up a 14-point deficit to overtake them last season. Chelsea have already come from nine behind to advance beyond them now. Leicester may need seven points to seal a top-four finish.
A week that could bring their maiden FA Cup win may instead lead to one with a familiar sense of heartbreak, of a season that promised so much delivering less.
