Ndidi Strike Seals Win Over Port FC In Bangkok
Following the cancellation of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur at Rajanmagala Stadium, the Foxes headed across town in Bangkok to take on Thai League 1 outfit Port, who finished third in their league last season. This summer, Leicester have so far faced Peterborough United, Northampton Town and OH Leuven. On Sunday, meanwhile, Enzo Maresca’s men will come up against Liverpool in Singapore (10am BST kick-off).
New goalkeeper Mads Hermansen was in from the off for the Foxes, with summer signing Harry Winks also getting more minutes in the tank. Academy graduate Hamza Choudhury, meanwhile, wore the captain's armband in 34-degree heat.
The Foxes were ahead inside 10 minutes when Victor Kristiansen slid the ball through to Kelechi Iheanacho, with the Nigerian squaring it for international team-mate Ndidi to slot home from close range.
A moment of alarm arrived on 14 minutes, when Frans Putros found himself in space, closing in on Hermansen’s goal. Choudhury, though, arrived out of nowhere with a perfectly timed sliding challenge to relieve the danger. Leicester broke away shortly after, but neither Wanya Marçal-Madivadua nor Iheanacho could get there in time to convert at the far post.
At the half-hour, there was a water break, but before then a raised flag stopped Iheanacho from doubling his side’s lead. The last action of the opening 45 minutes, on the other hand, saw Hamilton Soares De Sa send Suphanan Bureerat’s cross narrowly wide of Hermansen’s near post, with Ben Nelson bravely challenging him.
Ndidi was a threat for City. Just before the interval, a curled effort from the edge of the box was palmed away well by Port ‘keeper Sumethee Khokpho. Into the second half, Iheanacho chipped the Port shot-stopper from a tight angle, but also missed the target. Eight new faces joined the action with just over 20 minutes to go, including Patson Daka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and new signing Callum Doyle.
Khokpho had to be alert with 15 to play, getting down well to hold Dewsbury-Hall's low drive. Daka's shot was blocked too, but it was victory by a solitary goal in Leicester's fourth outing of the summer.
City: Hermansen (Stolarczyk 68'), Winks (Dewsbury-Hall 46’), Iheanacho (Daka 68'), Kristiansen (Albrighton 68'), Vestergaard (Souttar 46’), Ndidi, Choudhury (McAteer 68'), Thomas (Castagne 68'), Soumaré (Praet 68'), Nelson (Doyle 68'), Marçal-Madivadua (Ricardo 68').
Goal: Ndidi 7'.