Hull 1 City 1 (Hull won 5 – 4 on penalties)
Report by Colin Hall
Leicester City's hopes of lifting the League Cup for the fourth time have been put on hold for another year, following exit in this season's competition at the hands of Championship side Hull in a penalty shootout at the KC Stadium.
Claudio Ranieri's side only have themselves to blame after a disappointing display, which fell far short of the standards they have set themselves to date during this campaign.
Despite making ten changes from the team that had triumphed over Crystal Palace, Ranieri was confident, as were the sizeable and vociferous travelling contingent, that there was enough class and quality within the personnel on show to secure a passage into the quarter-finals.
Initial signs seemed encouraging. Marc Albrighton won the ball in the opening seconds to set up Andrej Kramaric, but the striker's attempt at a sensational opener flew narrowly wide.
That, however, proved to be as close as the visitors would come to scoring during normal time. Indeed, they could easily have conceded an early opener themselves as Odubajo's cross eluded Mark Schwarzer, only for De Laet to block Luer's close-range effort.
In another wave of Hull attacks, Maloney fired into the side netting after De Laet misjudged a header, but the defence generally provided solid protection for Schwarzer, with debutant Ben Chilwell overcoming a nervy beginning to give a positive account of himself.
Other areas of the team, though, had a rather less effective evening. Both Gokhan Inler nor Andy King looked ill-at-ease against their typically-combative Tigers counterparts, while Joe Dodoo proved unable to exert the impact he had provided in previous rounds.
With the strike duo of Kramaric and Shinji Okazaki looking bereft of confidence and form, it was no surprise that both were substituted midway through the second half. The introduction of Danny Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy gave a visible lift to the rest of the side, and prompted much-belated stirrings of creativity and rhythm.
But the Foxes survived a serious scare in the closing minutes, as Schwarzer, in a scene reminiscent of his shocker at Aston Villa last season, appeared to fumble a Maguire header over his own line. Much to the consternation of home supporters, though, referee Stuart Attwell waved play on.
Injury time saw Leicester finally begin to assert their authority on the game, but neither Inler nor Riyad Mahrez were able to convert chances that came their way.
The visitors' dominance continued into the first period of extra-time, with Vardy twice sending headers narrowly wide. At the other end, though, both Yohan Benalouane and Marcin Wasilewski were at the centre of heated (and not entirely unjustified) Hull penalty claims.
In the 100th minute, the breakthrough finally arrived as the three substitutes combined to put Leicester ahead. Drinkwater sent Vardy clear, and although the England striker saw Jakupovic block his shot, Mahrez was on hand to tuck home the rebound.
Although the lead looked decisive at the time, it proved to be short-lived, as the lively home sub Akpom produced a fierce drive which Schwarzer was only able to divert into the path of Hernandez who made no mistake from six yards out.
With no clear chance coming at either end during the remainder of extra-time, the lottery of a penalty shootout ensued. On previous occasions involving the Foxes, the home sides have generally prevailed, and so it proved here.
Once Jakupovic saved the first spot-kick, from a strangely-hesitant Mahrez, Hull never looked likely to relinquish their advantage, particularly as Schwarzer had been visibly struggling with mobility issues through the latter periods of the game. Could the veteran Australian's long, distinguished playing career finally be drawing to a close? The evidence of this particular evening gave a fairly heavy hint.
Overall, though, it would be wrong to place blame for the Cup exit on any individual, as collective failings had far more of an impact. Ranieri and the rest of the Blue Army will hope that the regular first-teamers will be able to resume normal service on league business in the coming weeks.
Hull (4-4-2): Jakupović; Odubajo, Dawson (c), Maguire, Robertson; Taylor (Hernández 79), Hayden, Huddlestone, Maloney; Diamé (Meyler 110), Luer (Akpom 74). Subs not used: McGregor, Bruce, Clucas, Elmohamady
Goal: Hernández 105
Bookings: Hayden, Robertson, Akpom
Penalties scored: Hernandez (1-0), Maloney (2-1), Huddlestone (3-2), Akpom (4-3), Meyler (5-4).
Leicester (4-4-2): Schwarzer; De Laet, Benalouane, Wasilewski, Chilwell; Dodoo (Mahrez 84), Inler, King (c), Albrighton; Kramarić (Drinkwater 65), Okazaki (Vardy 65). Subs not used: Schmeichel, Morgan, Simpson, Blyth
Goal: Mahrez 100
Bookings: Benalouane, Albrighton
Penalties scored: Drinkwater (1-1), Inler (2-2), Wasilewski (3-3), Vardy (4-4).
Penalty missed: Mahrez.
Referee: Stuart Attwell Attendance: 16,818 (2,550 visiting supporters)
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation