Leicester City started their Championship campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a resilient, ten-man Sheffield Wednesday at the King Power Stadium. Wout Faes's late header sealed the win for the Foxes in Marti Cifuentes's first game in charge.
The match began with Sheffield Wednesday, facing turmoil off the pitch, taking a surprise lead. Nathaniel Chalobah's deflected shot found the net, putting the Owls ahead. Wednesday's fans had staged a protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri, with many not taking their seats until five minutes after kick-off. Despite the off-field issues and a disrupted pre-season, Wednesday showed resilience and determination in the first half.
Leicester struggled to break down Wednesday's defense in the first half, with few clear-cut chances. However, the Foxes came out stronger after the break. Jannik Vestergaard leveled the score in the 54th minute, rifling a shot into the roof of the net after a clever set-piece routine.
The game's turning point came when Wednesday captain Barry Bannan received two yellow cards in quick succession, reducing the visitors to ten men. Bannan's second booking was for a late challenge on Harry Winks. With a numerical advantage, Leicester pressed for a winner.
Leicester's pressure finally paid off in the 87th minute when substitute Wout Faes headed home from a Bilal El Khannouss corner. Faes was unmarked, and his powerful header gave the Wednesday keeper no chance, sparking celebrations at the King Power Stadium.
Despite the late goal, Sheffield Wednesday continued to battle, but Leicester held on to secure the three points. The victory marked a successful start for new Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes, while Sheffield Wednesday were left to rue their missed opportunities and Bannan's dismissal.
Speaking after the game, Winks noted that Leicester allowed Wednesday to dictate the tempo in the first half. However, Leicester upped their game in the second half and imposed themselves on the match. He also added that the team's training on set-pieces paid off.
