Selikhov penalty heroics help Spartak cling on after Moses opener

Leicester City 1-1 Spartak Moscow
UEFA Europa League Group C
Thursday 4 November, Leicester City Stadium, Leicester

Goals: Leicester - Amartey 58’; Spartak - Moses 51’

Spartak partly avenged their dramatic 4-3 defeat in Moscow to Leicester on the last matchday with a hard-fought point in England.

Somehow Spartak survived going behind after 18 minutes when Soumare unleashed what seemed like an unstoppable piledriver that left Aleksandr Selikhov rooted to the spot - thankfully for him, the crossbar did just enough to keep it out.

Leicester dominated possession and most incisive attacks without truly testing Selikhov, and they paid the price just six minutes into the second half. Victor Moses flicked a ball forward to Aleksandr Sobolev, who set Mikhail Ignatov free down the right. The youngster’s clipped cross found Moses racing into the box unmarked to turn a brilliant header inside the far post to hand Spartak a shock lead.

The advantage didn’t last long though, as the hosts finally made their control count. A sharp corner flew towards the near post area where Ayoze Perez applied a delicate but crucial touch to flick it onwards, where Daniel Amartey pounced gratefully to turn it in before Spartak had a chance to react.

Spartak’s goalscorer almost went from hero to zero with 16 minutes remaining - but was reprieved thanks to Selikhov’s reactions. Substitute Ademola Lookman burst through into the penalty area but was dragged back by Moses, as the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Jamie Vardy - who had scored 10 of his previous 11 spot kicks - was denied a party by Selikhov’s solid legs.

Ten minutes later the woodwork again saved Spartak’s skin as Kelechi Iheanacho slammed a shot on the turn against the post from all of four yards out. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall smacked a header goalwards from Timothy Castaigne’s cross that struck the Nigerian striker in the stomach, leaving Selikhov suddenly helpless after diving to his left, but his unsighted effort was inches wide of completing a comeback.

Leicester stay third on five points, while Spartak remain bottom on four points.

Next Europa League fixtures: Wednesday 24 November - Spartak vs Napoli; Thursday 25 November - Leicester vs Legia Warsaw