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The FA Cup - Fifth Round
BournemouthAFC Bournemouth0LeicesterLeicester City1

Bournemouth 0-1 Leicester City aet: Abdul Fatawu's screamer sends Foxes through

By Callum MatthewsBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section FA Cupcomments205

A superb extra-time strike from Abdul Fatawu helped Championship leaders Leicester City progress past Premier League Bournemouth into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The tie finished goalless in normal time, with both sides hitting the post, alongside missing presentable chances.

With the half-time whistle approaching in extra time, Fatawu collected the ball on the edge of the area and curled a shot into the top right corner, via the fingertips of Cherries keeper Mark Travers.

The goal was enough to see Enzo Maresca's side through to the last eight for the first time since they won the tournament in 2021.

The defeat stretches Bournemouth's winless run to six games in all competitions but they can now concentrate on securing their Premier League survival, with Andoni Iraola's side currently eight points clear of the drop zone.

"It was a good win and a good game," Maresca told BBC Sport.

"I don't think winning tonight shows we are Premier League level or if we'd lost that we aren't Premier League level. It is just a game. Tonight we showed our level and we are happy.

"QPR on Saturday [in the league] is the most important thing in this moment."

Iraola, whose side had 27 shots on goal, said: "It is disappointing and it was a bad night for us because at the end it was the worst thing that could happen.

"We had a lot of shots and chances to finish the play and in the end if you play 120 minutes and don't score you deserve to go out.

"I think it's an opportunity missed."

The draw for the quarter-finals takes places at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday and will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website and app.

Bournemouth spurn chances as Leicester dream continues

On Saturday, Bournemouth went toe-to-toe with Manchester City but just lacked the finishing touch to earn a point or more against the Premier League champions.

This was a very similar situation.

Both sides attacked with real intent and pace in the early exchanges but the hosts created the better openings with Luis Sinisterra a livewire down the right.

His cutback saw January signing Enes Unal have a shot blocked on the line, before another pass from the Colombia winger was put over the bar by Alex Scott.

Leicester grew into the half and come closest of all when Marc Albrighton's low drive cannoned back off the post, before Wanya Marcal's curling effort was tipped over.

Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi hit the same post in the early exchanges of the second period, with a left-footed cross drifting over everyone before connecting with the woodwork.

The second half was a more cagey affair but Leicester's Yunus Akgun had a superb chance to win the tie when through on goal with three minutes remaining but he skied over the bar.

The winner came from the one piece of brilliance in the game and continues what has thus far been a memorable season for Leicester, who are six points clear at the top of the Championship.

With three months remaining, it could yet be an unforgettable one for Maresca and his side.

"It is a great feeling," Fatawu told BBC Sport. "I'm so happy for the goal and for the team.

"Our season has been amazing. It is good to be top of the league but we're not done yet. We're going hard to go to our main destination and we'll go again next week."

Player of the match

FatawuAbdul Fatawu

with an average of 8.57

AFC Bournemouth

  1. Squad number42Player nameTravers
    Average rating

    4.93

  2. Squad number14Player nameScott
    Average rating

    4.71

  3. Squad number3Player nameKerkez
    Average rating

    4.68

  4. Squad number4Player nameL Cook
    Average rating

    4.49

  5. Squad number15Player nameA Smith
    Average rating

    4.44

  6. Squad number24Player nameSemenyo
    Average rating

    4.43

  7. Squad number10Player nameChristie
    Average rating

    4.38

  8. Squad number25Player nameSenesi
    Average rating

    4.36

  9. Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi
    Average rating

    4.36

  10. Squad number26Player nameÜnal
    Average rating

    4.27

  11. Squad number29Player nameBilling
    Average rating

    4.04

  12. Squad number11Player nameOuattara
    Average rating

    4.02

  13. Squad number16Player nameTavernier
    Average rating

    3.93

  14. Squad number19Player nameKluivert
    Average rating

    3.62

  15. Squad number8Player nameFaivre
    Average rating

    3.59

  16. Squad number17Player nameSinisterra
    Average rating

    2.39

Leicester City

  1. Squad number18Player nameFatawu
    Average rating

    8.57

  2. Squad number23Player nameVestergaard
    Average rating

    8.51

  3. Squad number17Player nameChoudhury
    Average rating

    8.08

  4. Squad number21Player nameRicardo Pereira
    Average rating

    7.84

  5. Squad number4Player nameCoady
    Average rating

    7.58

  6. Squad number2Player nameJustin
    Average rating

    7.33

  7. Squad number40Player nameWanya Marçal
    Average rating

    7.33

  8. Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
    Average rating

    7.29

  9. Squad number45Player nameNelson
    Average rating

    7.26

  10. Squad number41Player nameStolarczyk
    Average rating

    7.24

  11. Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
    Average rating

    7.14

  12. Squad number29Player nameAkgün
    Average rating

    7.04

  13. Squad number26Player namePraet
    Average rating

    6.93

  14. Squad number28Player nameCannon
    Average rating

    6.89

  15. Squad number5Player nameDoyle
    Average rating

    6.75

  16. Squad number47Player nameRaikhy
    Average rating

    6.20

Line-ups

Bournemouth

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 42Travers
  • 15A Smith
  • 27Zabarnyi
  • 25SenesiBooked at 57minsSubstituted forTavernierat 73'minutes
  • 3KerkezSubstituted forFaivreat 105'minutes
  • 4L Cook
  • 14ScottBooked at 87mins
  • 17SinisterraSubstituted forKluivertat 90'minutesBooked at 109mins
  • 29Billing
  • 11OuattaraSubstituted forChristieat 73'minutes
  • 26ÜnalBooked at 35minsSubstituted forSemenyoat 45'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Mepham
  • 8Faivre
  • 10Christie
  • 16Tavernier
  • 19Kluivert
  • 20Radu
  • 24Semenyo
  • 48Kinsey-Wellings

Leicester

Formation 4-3-3

  • 41Stolarczyk
  • 17Choudhury
  • 4Coady
  • 23Vestergaard
  • 5DoyleBooked at 51minsSubstituted forJustinat 80'minutesBooked at 115mins
  • 26PraetSubstituted forNelsonat 105'minutes
  • 47RaikhyBooked at 37minsSubstituted forRicardo Pereiraat 45'minutesBooked at 112mins
  • 29Akgün
  • 11AlbrightonSubstituted forFatawuat 64'minutesBooked at 96mins
  • 28CannonSubstituted forIheanachoat 64'minutes
  • 40Marçal-Madivadua

Substitutes

  • 1Ward
  • 2Justin
  • 14Iheanacho
  • 15Souttar
  • 18Fatawu
  • 21Ricardo Pereira
  • 45Nelson
  • 46Thomas
  • 76Briggs
Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
10,872

Match Stats

Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamLeicester
Possession
Home49%
Away51%
Shots
Home27
Away22
Shots on Target
Home4
Away6
Corners
Home13
Away5
Fouls
Home15
Away16

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Bournemouth 0, Leicester City 1.

  2. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time ends, Bournemouth 0, Leicester City 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdul Fatawu.

  4. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  5. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury James Justin (Leicester City).

  6. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  7. Booking

    James Justin (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Foul by James Justin (Leicester City).

  9. Post update

    Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Yunus Akgün (Leicester City) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James Justin.

  11. Post update

    Ben Nelson (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth).

  13. Booking

    Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City).

  15. Post update

    Romain Faivre (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Alex Scott.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jannik Vestergaard (Leicester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Romain Faivre (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Justin Kluivert.

  19. Booking

    Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card.

  20. Post update

    James Justin (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Comments

Join the conversation

205 comments

  • Comment posted by Bricksnmortar, at 22:06 27 Feb

    Great stuff Leicester! Flying the flag for the Championship, most exciting league in world football!

    Leeds fan.

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 22:09 27 Feb

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      So it Leeds win promotion, would you want them to stay in "most exciting league in world" rather than move up to the PL?

  • Comment posted by Bread, at 22:11 27 Feb

    Some of those performances from Leicester were great - Vestergaard and Choudhury were immense.

    49 shots in the match, felt like 300! Also felt none were ever going in, but amazing from Abdul.
    Leicester were good value for the win. I was concerned that the Cherries may be too sharp, but the defensive part of LCFC took the game to them & stifled them.

    Decent performance from Coady and Doyle too

    • Reply posted by Shyfox, today at 00:16

      Shyfox replied:
      Doyle was hopeless

  • Comment posted by User0921224906, at 22:09 27 Feb

    Wow. Congrats Leicester City. Form books can officially be thrown in the bin, as Leicester City proved 2 losses in a row don't matter. Congrats, keep it up in the Championship, and from a Neutral(Bayern fan), keep up the Chaos in the FA Cup. Hope Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and Leeds United join you lot.
    Congrats again.

    • Reply posted by User0921224906, at 22:14 27 Feb

      User0921224906 replied:
      Also, avoid Man City if you can(because Haaland is back in form along with Kevin de Bruyne).

  • Comment posted by The Spin Doctor, at 22:06 27 Feb

    Good win by the Foxes. Will be nice to see them in the PL next season.

    • Reply posted by Metro1962, at 22:08 27 Feb

      Metro1962 replied:
      If they make it there.😁

  • Comment posted by The Walkers, at 22:14 27 Feb

    Lovely to see such a cultured performance from Vestergaard.
    Pity he didn't get a deserved goal at the end.
    The Foxes bounce back.

    • Reply posted by Metro1962, at 22:21 27 Feb

      Metro1962 replied:
      He misses out in the next 2 championship games.👍

  • Comment posted by stephen James, at 22:09 27 Feb

    The team Bournemouth chose for a place in the quarter final was utterly incomprehensible. How many chances do they think they will have to reach an FA Cup final (with a couple of favourable draws)? Still, 12th in the Premier League is something that their supporters can talk about in 30 years time.

    • Reply posted by User0921224906, at 22:15 27 Feb

      User0921224906 replied:
      They pulled a "Spurs". They thought this was easy too.

  • Comment posted by D-LEEDS, at 22:12 27 Feb

    Well done Leicester 👏👏👏

    • Reply posted by knicaMan1960, today at 00:37

      knicaMan1960 replied:
      Gracious, thank you !.
      LCFC boys.

  • Comment posted by Eye_Said, at 22:07 27 Feb

    ManC fan

    Didn't see the game(was otherwise engaged), just the winner - but 'stunner' is correct - fantastic strike! Well done Foxes

  • Comment posted by Cheems, at 22:12 27 Feb

    One of the biggest mood swings I've had in 45 years of following Leicester from Leeds on Friday to tonight!

    • Reply posted by Troll_Face42069, at 22:15 27 Feb

      Troll_Face42069 replied:
      Really?

  • Comment posted by outonthefloor, at 22:05 27 Feb

    Superb Leicester…

  • Comment posted by Oncha, at 22:11 27 Feb

    Good job, Leicester. Spot on game management with the right substitutions at the right time. PL beckons.

  • Comment posted by What is all the Fosse about, at 22:11 27 Feb

    Great performance and good to see other squad players getting a run out but also playing so well. It bodes well for the PL, but while I know our keeper is decent, he doesn't have give me frights along the way! Everyone played well and it showed the work Enzo is doing on a daily basis. Brilliant by the foxes.

    • Reply posted by Tom Bennett, at 23:23 27 Feb

      Tom Bennett replied:
      Keeper decent? Great shot stopper but his passing 😩

  • Comment posted by Rich, at 22:21 27 Feb

    Great cup game to watch, end to end, loads of chances, small stadium with good support. The magic of the FA Cup 👍

    • Reply posted by Keith Howkins, at 23:42 27 Feb

      Keith Howkins replied:
      Small stadium indeed. The Leicester City fans were signing - I've got a shed bigger than this (ground).

  • Comment posted by COYR, at 22:15 27 Feb

    Forest fan in peace. Great job Leicester!

    Hope to see you in the final v us at Wembley (could happen)

    • Reply posted by Wengerout, at 22:22 27 Feb

      Wengerout replied:
      (Won't happen.)

  • Comment posted by Stephen, at 22:10 27 Feb

    I honestly thought by putting out a much changed"weakened " side we were going to be well beaten. I was wrong to doubt Enza ...who must be the best card sharp & pack shuffler in all the leagues currently!

    • Reply posted by bensondog, at 22:12 27 Feb

      bensondog replied:
      he,ll be gone by Xmas

  • Comment posted by Selim , at 22:05 27 Feb

    well done Leicester- carry on then, you can do it!

  • Comment posted by hhtid2024, at 22:14 27 Feb

    jeez what a game, that's why you watch football

  • Comment posted by North London Forever, at 22:04 27 Feb

    Foxes !!