EFL Cup: Striker-less Aston Villa hold on for draw at Leicester
Vardy
LowlyAstonVilladefied incessant pressure as they held out bravely for a 1-1 draw at Leicester City despite being unable to field a striker in their League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Freddy Guilbert putVillaahead with their first shot of the game after 28 minutes and Leicester, second in the Premier League and hoping to reach their first cup final since 2000, needed a 74th-minute equaliser by Kelechi Iheanacho to force a draw.
The second leg is on January28,with the winners of the match meeting either Manchester City or Manchester United in the final.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy returned to the side after missing the previous three matches with a minor calf problem while Jonathan Kodjia's illness leftVilla, 17th in the league, without a recognised forward.
"We haven't got a choice. That's where we are," saidAstonVillamanager Dean Smith.
Ayoze Perez had a shot deflected wide andVillagoalkeeper Orjan Nyland denied Vardy with his knees as Leicester seized the initiative but it was the visitors who went ahead.
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A move started by Jack Grealish ended with Anwar El Ghazi crossing to the far post where Guilbert caught Ben Chilwell napping and volleyed home.
Villanearly had another goal before halftime when Ezro Konsa headed onto the bar.
Leicester pressed forward relentlessly after the break butVillaappeared to be holding out comfortably until Hamza Choudhury stole the ball from Douglas Luiz and set up a break which ended with Vardy playing in Iheanacho and the Nigerian scored with a clinical finish.