Iheanacho Thanks Blue Army For Goal Of The Season Votes
- Kelechi Iheanacho wins Leicester City’s 2020/21 Goal of the Season award
- The Nigerian was handed the accolade for his stunning winner against Crystal Palace
- He also credited Jonny Evans for his role in the win
The City No.14’s superb strike against Crystal Palace led to the Blue Army naming it their favourite effort of the campaign, despite having many brilliant goals to choose from.
But Iheanacho did not take all of the credit for the effort, and hailed Jonny Evans for his pin-point pass into the striker’s path, as well as the Northern Ireland defender’s contribution at the other end of the pitch.
Just moments after Timothy Castagne had fired the Foxes level, Evans put in a goal-saving tackle to deny Christian Benteke before assisting Iheanacho for the winner.
Iheanacho told LCFC TV after winning the Club’s Goal of the Season award: “It feels good! It was a great goal and a great ball from Jonny. That goal is really a great goal and I’m happy that the fans chose that as the best goal this season.
Kelechi Iheanacho vs. Crystal Palace
A sensational strike by City's No.14 to secure all three points at home against Crystal palace.
“I’m really, really happy. When the ball got played from Jonny, I got it down inside and took it back. The only thing on my mind was to shoot, and that’s what I did. It went in the back of the net, so it was really a great pass from Jonny.
“As you can see, everybody was so happy, the staff as well. It meant a lot for the team because we really worked hard in that game to come from behind.
“Jonny made a great, great tackle as well, and that helped us as well because that was like a half-goal for me. He ran from the halfway line to make that tackle. It was a great moment and of course, making the assist as well for me to score, was fantastic.”
Iheanacho enjoyed plenty of memorable moments in 2020/21 for City, not least sending the Foxes to their first Emirates FA Cup Final in over five decades with a winning goal against Southampton in the semi-final at Wembley Stadium.
He said: “There are a lot of great moments so I can’t really pick one, but I think the goal against Southampton… that got us to the final of the FA Cup. It’s not the best goal, but it had so much emotion with it so that will be the moment for me.
Iheanacho Strike Sends Foxes Into FA Cup Final
Enjoy Kelechi Iheanacho's winning goal against Southampton at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup Semi-Final.
“It’s the moment that Leicester City Football Club had a chance to get to the FA Cup Final. It’s been a long time and they’ve been waiting for that.
“It was a great ball from Jamie [Vardy] down the line. The ball fell kindly for me and it was really emotional that day. It was a great day, and to win the trophy was one of the best moments. That moment was great for me.”
Iheanacho’s haul of 12 Premier League goals for the season came in between the months of February and May as the frontman hit a brilliant purple patch in which he also scored a fine volley against Burnley at Turf Moor.
“That one was fantastic,” he recalled. “It was great awareness from Wilf [Ndidi] and a great run from Vards to take the defender away. I saw the space and ran into it.
“I looked at the goal and concentrated on the ball, and looked at the ball all the way until it got to my feet. I got a good contact, and it was a really fantastic goal as well.”