Four-Goal Leicester Defeat Hull In Pre-Season
Patson Daka opened the scoring for the Foxes ahead of the interval, before second-half goals from Harvey Barnes, Wesley Fofana and James Maddison ensured it would be the visitors who received the inaugural Corendon Cup at full-time.
While goalkeeper Daniel Iversen played the full 90 in East Yorkshire, there were 10 different starters in each half for Brendan Rodgers' men – handing each outfield player another 45 minutes following friendlies against Notts County and OH Leuven so far this summer.
City, adorning their new 2022/23 adidas home kit, kicked off on a mild evening against the Tigers, themselves sporting an unfamiliar white and red colourway. The visitors dominated much of the early possession, although they had to wait until the 10th minute to carve out the first true opportunity.
Papy Mendy fed Ayoze Pérez in a central position, before the Spaniard slipped a through ball into Daka, who had Hull defender Tobias Figueiredo for company. The Zambia international, though, was nonetheless able to unleash a low drive at Matt Ingram's net, skidding it wide of the far post.
Shota Arveladze's second tier outfit, who begin their campaign on 30 July, also posed a threat. Brave defending from Jannik Vestergaard was required in a congested area on 16 minutes when Sean McLoughlin swung a corner in, while Iversen also did well to punch Regan Slater's cross away.
At the other end, Youri Tielemans glided a corner of his own into Hull's box and it was deflected towards Çağlar Söyüncü, whose header lacked the power required to test Ingram. Elsewhere, an audacious free-kick from Ozan Tufan – a Turkey team-mate of Söyüncü's – flew past Iversen's far post.
On the half-hour mark, Leicester led. Their high-press paid off when Dennis Praet combined with Daka to pinch the ball away from Jean Michael Seri, before City's No.29 raced through the Tigers' backline and slotted the ball into the near corner. That was his second strike of the summer so far.
An XI including Jamie Vardy, Fofana and Maddison emerged for the second period in Hull, as Rodgers loaded more valuable pre-season minutes into the legs of another 10 players. Within three minutes, it was 2-0 to the Foxes, with Barnes also doubling his summer goals tally.
It would not have been possible, however, without an ambitious charge forwards from Boubakary Soumaré, as the Frenchman worked his way into a pocket of space, teeing up Barnes. On the left angle of the area, the Academy graduate then took a touch and drilled a deflected effort beyond Ingram's reach.
A bright opening to the second 45 got better for Rodgers' visitors too. A tidy touch from Maddison, on the right flank, was followed by a precise ball into the area – inviting Fofana to glance his header, via the post, into the back of the net. Leicester were on the front foot as nightfall fell.
Soumaré then launched a powerful half-volley straight at the Tigers 'keeper, while Maddison fizzed a free-kick wide from 20 yards out. With 73 minutes on the clock, Hull provided a reminder of their attacking danger, with Jacob Greaves heading Seri's free-kick narrowly the wrong side of Iversen's far post.
Another stylish goal was added to the collection with six minutes remaining, though. It began with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall threading a pass through to Maddison. City's No.10 then spun on the spot, past McLoughlin, before also turning Greaves and locating the bottom corner from just inside the box.
Major moment – Daka starts the scoring
Fresh from netting in City's 3-3 draw at Belgian sister club OH Leuven at the weekend, Patson Daka continued his goalscoring form in Hull, converting a composed finish on 29 minutes. It offered a starting point for Leicester, who would add another three goals on the night.
Coming up – A Football League double header
The Foxes will contest two matches on Saturday with different squads being deployed at Derby County and Preston North End. League 1 outfit Derby are first up, a 1pm kick-off at Pride Park, before another line-up takes on second-tier Preston at Deepdale at 3pm. Both games will be live on LCFC TV.
All times BST.