Huge blow for reigning champions Leicester City as they suffer an unexpected 2-1 defeat in the league opener against Hull City at the KC Stadium on Saturday.
The Champions begin the new season with a whimper as Hull City defy all odds to pull up a massive shocker against the Foxes.
The Foxes dominated possession in the first half but they lacked precision on the final ball. A rock solid Hull City defense cancelled out Leicester’s pace as they did not allow the Foxes any room in the final third.
Hull City had the chance to open the scoring in the 5th minute but a headed effort from Davies went just wide of the post. Snodgrass whipped in a decisive cross from a corner which picked Davies in the area. Davies launched a header but it went inches wide of the post.
Leicester pushed more bodies forward and almost opened their account in the 18th minute. Musa picked Vardy inside the box, who misjudged the ball and it luckily found Mahrez. The Algerian winger who received the PFA player of the year award last season, launched a venomous strike on goal but the ball went wide of the post.
Leicester controlled the midfield but were unable to open up space inside the Hull City box. Mahrez had another golden opportunity to put Leicester ahead but the Algerian playmaker smashed his strike wide in the 41st minute.
However, Hull City took full advantage of Leicester’s defensive loopholes as Adama Valentin Diomande scored the opener for Leicester City in the injury time of the first half. Snodgrass whipped in a well-timed cross from a corner which picked Davies, whose headed effort was punched away towards the far post by Schmeichel but Diomande pounced on to the rebound and scored with a spectacular overhead kick!
Leicester City pulled one back from a penalty right after the restart, in the 47th minute. Huddlestone brought down Gray just inside the box and the referee awarded a spot kick in favour of the Foxes. Mahrez made no mistake from the spot as he blasted the ball down the middle of the goal to beat Jakupovic, who dived to his left.
Leicester looked confident after clinching the equaliser as they worked the ball all over the pitch by pushing more men forward as Hull City were more focused on falling down deep and defend.
However, a massive blunder form Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel awarded Hull City the winner in the 57th minute. Schmeichel threw the ball beyond Gray which went straight to Elmohamady. Elmohamady rushed forward and sliced in a decisive cross from the right which picked Snodgrass, who thumped the ball with a powerful half-volley into the back of the net.
Okazaki had the chance to draw it level in the 73rd minute but his left-footed strike from the edge of the box over the bar.
Leicester City looked desperate for an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game but Hull City dug down deep at their end to hold on to their lead. Leicester had some outside chances but they lacked the finishing touch as they gave away three valuable points in the league opener.