Leicester City earned a thoroughly-deserved replay at Eastlands after holding Premier League giants Manchester City to a 2-2 draw.
Sol Bamba put the Foxes ahead in the first minute, but James Milner’s low drive brought the visitors level midway through the first half.
Carlos Tevez poked the ball home from close range just before half-time to put Manchester City in front, but Andy King’s equaliser just after the hour mark ensured Leicester were guaranteed a rematch.
Leicester showed great determination and effort against Roberto Mancini’s side and at times had their Premier League counterparts on the back foot.
The game was certainly of significance to Foxes manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who formerly managed Manchester City during the 2007-2008 season before the Swede parted ways with the club after only one year.
Despite their high league position, Mancini fielded a strong team against the Foxes which included the likes of Carlos Tevez, Adam Johnson and James Milner.
But it was the home side who took the lead inside the first minute when debutant centre back Sol Bamba latched on to Jack Hobbs’ flick on from a Paul Gallagher corner to stab the ball away with his first touch in English football.
The goal emphasised how much of a dominating presence the former Hibernian defender would prove to be from set pieces, as he terrorised a Manchester City back line that failed to cope with him.
The visitors, although shocked by the early goal, responded well with good periods of possession which the Foxes were happy to sit back and absorb during the opening fifteen minutes.
Manchester City did find their equaliser on 23 minutes after James Milner played a one-two pass with Carlos Tevez, the former Villa man easing through the Leicester defence before firing a low drive beyond Chris Weale.
The equaliser was arguably no more than the visitors deserved for their patience, but the hosts appeared unfazed as Sol Bamba continued to threaten again from set plays before Yuki Abe’s stunning 25 yard drive was well saved by Joe Hart.
Minutes later, Paul Gallagher – who continued to be a constant threat with corner kicks – picked out Bamba again in the penalty area but his powerful header was punched away by Hart.
Andy King had a great chance to restore Leicester’s lead shortly after when Richie Wellens played a wonderful through ball behind Manchester City’s backline, but the Welsh international’s chip fell directly into the hands of Joe Hart.
At the other end, Adam Johnson should have put the visitors ahead after being picked out with a low drive into the six yard box, but the England international missed the target from close range after pressure from Chris Weale.
The hosts were made to pay for their missed opportunities however when James Milner’s low ball picked out Carlos Tevez at the near post, who put the ball past Weale to give his side the upper hand at half-time.
The second half offered more of the same end-to-end action as Lloyd Dyer latched on to a long ball over the top of the defence, but fired high and wide as his off balance shot was quickly closed down.
Leicester continued to threaten with set plays as Jack Hobbs’ powerful header flew just over the bar from another Paul Gallagher corner kick as the Foxes prowled for an equaliser.
And they were level on 64 minutes when Joe Hart fumbled a seemingly harmless long ball from Paul Gallagher into the path of Andy King, who regained his composure to slot the ball into an empty net.
It was no more than Leicester deserved, having been the better side in the second half.
Manchester City appeared content with a replay when Mancini opted to replace the largely ineffective Jo with a more defensive option in Pablo Zabaleta, with substitute Nigel De Jong sitting just in front of the defence.
But Leicester maintained their ‘nothing to lose’ attitude and pressed on, with Sol Bamba once again threatening from a corner kick, his header being cleared off the line by James Milner after beating Joe Hart.
Then, against the run of play, the Manchester City had a glorious opportunity to restore their lead when Carlos Tevez found substitute Nigel De Jong free in the penalty area, but the Dutchman’s scuffed effort failed to trouble Chris Weale.
As the match drew to a close, Tevez again could have won it for the visitors, but Sol Bamba was on hand to block the former Manchester United man’s shot after Chris Weale had saved his initial effort.
The final whistle indicated the two teams would face off again at Eastlands in a replay, the winner of which will travel to Notts County – another of Eriksson’s former clubs – in the fourth round.
Man of the Match – Sol Bamba
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