Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers insists it is still ‘all to play for’ in the Europa League
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers remains confident his side can reach the Europa League knockout stages despite a frustrating 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow.
Jamie Vardy’s second-half penalty miss proved crucial as the Foxes were held at the King Power Stadium.
They were forced to come from behind after Daniel Amartey cancelled out Victor Moses’ shock opener.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers remains confident his side can reach the knockout stages
Jamie Vardy missed a big chance to give Leicester victory over Spartak Moscow from the spot
The draw leaves Leicester third in Group C, two points behind leaders Napoli, with two games left and just three points separate the four teams.
Napoli’s 4-1 win at Legia Warsaw puts them in pole position but if Leicester win their last two games, at home to Legia in three weeks and in Naples in December, they will top the group.
Rodgers said: ‘It’s all to play for. If we, most importantly, win our next one that will put us in a good place going into the last game.
‘It was always going to be the case, I’ve said about winning the two homes games, we haven’t done that, but it’s very clear – we win the two games and win the group.
‘Napoli will be a tough game away from home but we played well here to be 2-0 up (before drawing 2-2) and we know if we play to our highest level we can win.
‘I thought performance-wise we played reasonably well. We created chances, more than enough to win the game, and one moment where we lacked concentration and ability to run back cost us.
Spartak keeper Aleksandr Selikhov saved Vardy’s soft penalty late in the second half
‘Our reaction was good and we had other chances to win the game. To not win it is a little bit frustrating. Jamie has saved the team and the club so many times, it (the penalty miss) was unfortunate.’
The Foxes dominated the the first half, without making a breakthrough, and Boubakary Soumare came closest when he smacked the bar from 25 yards.
Limited Spartak were second best but they stunned the hosts by taking the lead after 51 minutes.
Moses started the move before running unchecked to meet Mikhail Ignatov’s right-wing cross and glance his first goal of the season past Kasper Schmeichel.
Leicester trailed for just seven minutes, though, and Amartey levelled when he headed in after Ayoze Perez flicked on Ryan Bertrand’s corner.
Victor Moses (right) celebrates giving Spartak the lead in the second half at the King Power
Daniel Amartey levelled for Brendan Rodgers’ side with a header seven minutes later
It should have been the catalyst for victory yet substitute Vardy wasted the chance from the spot with 15 minutes left.
He had only been on for five minutes when Moses hauled back Ademola Lookman in the area but his poor spot-kick was comfortably saved by Aleksandr Selikhov.
Kelechi Iheanacho then hit the post in the final 10 minutes, having blocked Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s header.
