Leicester strike late after resistance of beleaguered Sheff Wed players and fans

North Wales Chronicle

4 days ago

Wednesday have had to endure a turbulent off-season and are under a number of Football League-imposed embargoes for various financial breaches, including the payment of wages to players and staff being delayed for the last three months.
Wednesday fans made their feelings known to Chansiri by delaying their entry to their seats and the away end was visibly empty as the players came onto the pitch at the King Power Stadium, with a banner that read 'SWFC for sale – enough is enough'.
The Owls had just 15 senior players on the books ahead of their season-opener but produced a determined display against the Foxes.
After five minutes, the fans made their way into the ground and were greeted with applause from the Leicester fans.
For Wednesday, it was an achievement of its own to be on the pitch for the first game but they stunned the King Power into silence when Nathaniel Chalobah gave the visitors a shock lead midway through the first half, and it was thoroughly deserved.
Wednesday's resilience was broken when Jannik Vestergaard equalised early in the second period and, if Wednesday already did not have a mountain to climb, captain Barry Bannan was sent off with 14 minutes to play.
Leicester, who started a new era after relegation from the Premier League under new boss Marti Cifuentes, left it late to grab the winner through Faes and were reminded that life back in the Championship may not be as plain sailing as the last time they were in the second tier.
A spirited Wednesday side almost grabbed an early opener, Chalobah driving forward with the ball an unleashing an effort which needed to be tipped onto the post by Jakub Stolarczyk.
Pierce Charles was brought into action with three routine saves in first 15 minutes but the hosts came closest when Bilal El Khannouss' effort from distance was marginally dragged wide.
Against the script, an already emotional away end erupted in the 26th minute.
Yan Valery cut the ball back to Chalobah on the edge of the box and he sent a strike towards goal which deflected off Oliver Skipp and into the net.
Leicester should have been on level terms three minutes before the break – a corner whipped towards the back post was headed back across goal by Caleb Okoli but Vestergaaard headed wide.
Leicester wanted a penalty at end of the half when El Khannous' strike seemingly hit the arm of Bannan as boos rang around the stadium at the break.
Leicester City fans applaud Sheffield Wednesday supporters in solidarity amid the club's ongoing financial struggles, as fans hold off entering the stadium in protest. pic.twitter.com/gz7rpMwB0F
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 10, 2025
The Foxes put Wednesday under the pump at the beginning of the second period as the visitors could not get out of their own half and the pressure paid.
El Khannouss' low delivery from a free-kick evaded everyone inside the box and Vestergaard pounced to finish high into the net.
Valery and Chalobah both went off injured and Wednesday's task was made harder when Bannan was given his marching orders for a second booking for a late challenge on Harry Winks.
Leicester finally found the winner three minutes from time.
Charles was in inspired form and he denied a Patson Daka header from point blank range but there was nothing he could do from the resulting corner when El Khannouss whipped a corner onto the head of Faes, who guided home.