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TAWANDA Maswanhise was once again the toast of the day for Leicester City’s development squad on Monday.
He scored a brilliant goal as his side produced a stunning performance to claim their first three points of the campaign by beating Everton Under-23s 3-1.
The 18-year-old, the son of former top Zimbabwean sprinter, Jeffrey Maswanhise, was a thorn in the flesh of the Toffees, throughout the night.
The Foxes scored three goals at the LCFC Training Ground in the English Premier League 2 Division 1.
It was the perfect way to bounce back from the home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Three changes were made to the starting XI.
Bayli Spencer-Adams and first-team defender Filip Benkovic both came into the backline, while Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, was also handed a start in midfield.
City switched shape too, opting to play a 3-5-2 formation, with captain Vontae Daley-Campbell and Kasey McAteer, acting as the wing backs, in a fluid system.
It was the Foxes who broke the deadlock, when McAteer’s shot was parried by Zan Luk Leban, into the path of Wakeling, who tapped home for his third of the season, in all competitions.
The hosts were now starting to control possession and, after a free-flowing passing move, Daley-Campbell played in Wakeling, but his shot flew wide, before more good play ended with Maswanhise firing off target.
Just over 10 minutes before the break, City grabbed a second.
And, it was a goal of Maswanhise’s own making, as he shifted the ball onto his left foot and powered a strike into the far top corner.
A mere few minutes after that goal, Young was on hand again to produce a smart diving stop from the lively Dobbin, whose volley was heading in, before Sean McAllister struck narrowly wide for the away side.
Early in the second half, Maswanhise continued to cause problems, first seeing a shot diverted off target via a block and, after Marcal-Madivadua glided through, firing past the near post.
The winger’s next effort also found Leban in the way.
The third goal arrived just before the hour mark when Daley-Campbell exchanged a one-two with Sammy Braybrooke down the right, and drove the ball hard and low into the far corner, from a tight angle.
Charlie Whitaker forced a point-blank save from Young, who spread himself well, before substitute Rafa Garcia, somehow, couldn’t turn the ball home, after being presented with a golden opportunity.
Rhys Hughes slotted in a consolation, deep into stoppage-time.
The Foxes climbed up above Everton, and into ninth place, in the early Premier League 2 Division 1 standings, with five points, from their opening four games of the 2021/22 season.
City are straight back in league action this Friday evening as they travel to the south coast to meet Brighton & Hove Albion at AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre. — Lcfc.com/Sports Reporter
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