Success Over OHL At LCFC Training Ground
For the fixture, 24 players were named in the matchday squad, with Boubakary Soumaré not involved and Harvey Barnes not match ready. Following the 1-0 success over Northampton Town, City were back in action four days later.
It was OH Leuven who would strike first, though, with Ezechiel Banzuzi converting after only four minutes. The Foxes were soon level through Jamie Vardy, whose stooping header from a Dennis Praet cross beat Nordin Jackers in the OHL net from close range on nine minutes.
Chances continued to flow for both outfits in the first 45, with Wanya Marçal-Madivadua firing over from a Vardy delivery. Then, Jakub Stolarczyk held onto a curler from Nathaniel Opoku – on loan at Leuven from Leicester.
Summer signing Callum Doyle drilled wide from distance with his left boot, then Vardy was the creator once again, however Timothy Castagne was unable to connect at the far post. A lovely pass from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall located the run of the No.9 shortly after, but Jackers saved with his legs.
Into the second 45, with the scores at 1-1 and Leicester unchanged, Dewsbury-Hall created two opportunities, with Marçal-Madivadua’s drive parried away by substitute goalkeeper Valentin Cojocaru, before Vardy’s clever flick trickled off target.
Another fine stop by Cojocaru preventing Castagne – in an advanced position on the right for much of the game – from slotting home Vardy’s pass.
Summer recruit Harry Winks tested Cojocaru with a left-footed daisy-cutter, but the Romanian goalkeeper could do nothing about Praet’s 20-yard drive, which found the top corner for 2-1.
With OHL looking for a route back into the match, Stolarczyk made a brilliant save to his left as Thibault Vlietinck struck from range. With just over 10 minutes of the second period to play, a further nine changes were made to City’s XI.
With Marc Albrighton on the pitch and now wearing the captain’s armband, he delivered a free-kick into Harry Souttar, but the Australia international centre-back headed over the crossbar. City were 2-1 up after 90 minutes, with a further 45 to come.
The third 45 saw the Foxes extend their advantage within 90 seconds of the restart, with Albrighton the man finding the net for the men in blue. He had another big chance for 4-1 with just over 15 minutes to go, however he fired wide.
Leuven capitalised and reduced the deficit to one goal, prior to Kasey McAteer replying with a neat finish to reinstate the Leicester cushion. That's the way it stayed in north Leicestershire, as the Foxes now head to Thailand as their pre-season campaign continues.
First up is a fixture against Tottenham Hotspur in Bangkok on Sunday (11am kick-off). They then tackle Liverpool in Singapore, a week later, on Sunday 30 July (10am kick-off).
First 45 starting XI: Stolarczyk, Ricardo, Faes, Coady, Doyle, Winks, Praet, Dewsbury-Hall, Castagne, Marçal-Madivadua, Vardy (c).
Second 45 starting XI: Stolarczyk, Ricardo, Faes, Coady, Doyle, Winks, Praet, Dewsbury-Hall, Castagne, Marçal-Madivadua, Vardy (c).
Third 45 starting XI: Iversen, Justin, Souttar, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Ndidi, Choudhury, McAteer, Albrighton (c), Daka, Iheanacho.
All times BST.