Fatawu’s stoppage-time volley earns Leicester 2-1 win over West Brom

Late drama at the King Power Stadium

Abdul Fatawu scored deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win for Leicester City over West Bromwich Albion in the Sky Bet Championship. The decisive moment came after a tense second half in which Leicester were forced to withstand sustained pressure, before turning one of their final opportunities into a match-winning goal.

The contest took place at the King Power Stadium, where the atmosphere was shaped by noticeable empty areas in the home end. Leicester supporters had urged a boycott of the club’s first home game of the year, reflecting anger over the running of the club. Even so, Leicester made a positive start and ultimately found a way to take all three points.

Ayew opens the scoring before Grant responds

Leicester’s early initiative was rewarded in the 19th minute when Jordan Ayew put the hosts in front with his fifth goal of the season. The move featured neat build-up play, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid threading a through-ball to Jordan James, who then played across for Ayew to finish into an empty net.

West Brom’s first significant opportunity arrived around the half-hour mark. Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk misjudged a cross and punched the ball straight to Mikey Johnston, whose goalbound header was cleared off the line by Ricardo Pereira.

West Brom were not to be denied for long. Karlan Grant levelled the match with his third goal of the campaign, finishing expertly after Alex Mowatt played a ball into his path. Grant was able to take his time before dispatching a shot past the onrushing Stolarczyk and into the bottom right corner.

The equaliser shifted the momentum, and West Brom pushed for a second before the break. Mowatt, influential in midfield, delivered a cross to the back post where George Campbell fired an effort across goal and narrowly wide from a tight angle.

West Brom pressure and Stolarczyk’s key saves

After half-time, Leicester faced what was described as a barrage of West Brom attacks. Isaac Price struck the upright eight minutes into the second half, and Stolarczyk then got down low to stop Aune Heggebo’s close-range effort.

Wave after wave of Albion pressure followed. Johnston broke the offside trap but could not beat Stolarczyk, whose second-half performance proved crucial as Leicester struggled to gain control. With 10 minutes remaining, Stolarczyk again delivered, palming away Campbell’s header to keep the score level.

Those interventions ensured Leicester stayed in the match long enough to deliver a decisive moment at the other end.

Fatawu’s volley settles it in stoppage time

West Brom have a history of conceding late, and they were punished once again. With minutes remaining, Fatawu met Stephy Mavididi’s cross and fired a volley into the top corner, sealing a dramatic victory for Leicester.

The goal came despite signs of fatigue. Leicester’s post-match comments highlighted that Fatawu had been “very tired” and “cramping a little on his calf,” yet still showed the belief and strength to get into position and finish.

What the result means for both sides

The win was described as “much-needed” for Leicester and helped them build momentum, as they recorded back-to-back home wins and moved into the top half of the Championship table.

For West Brom, the late defeat extended a difficult run away from home to 10 straight losses. Despite creating chances and producing a strong second-half spell, they were left to reflect on missed opportunities and another late concession.

Key match moments

• 19th minute: Jordan Ayew scores for Leicester after a through-ball from Bobby De Cordova-Reid and a square pass from Jordan James.
• Half-hour: Mikey Johnston’s header is cleared off the line by Ricardo Pereira after a misjudged punch from Jakub Stolarczyk.
• Before half-time: Karlan Grant equalises, finishing into the bottom right corner after a pass from Alex Mowatt.
• Second half: Isaac Price hits the post; Stolarczyk makes multiple saves including stops from Aune Heggebo, Mikey Johnston and George Campbell.
• Stoppage time: Abdul Fatawu volleys Stephy Mavididi’s cross into the top corner to win the match.

Post-match reflections

Leicester’s reaction focused on resilience during a difficult second half and the importance of key contributions. There was specific praise for Stolarczyk’s string of saves, alongside recognition of the togetherness shown as the match became increasingly challenging after the equaliser.

At the same time, Leicester acknowledged an area for improvement: maintaining the mindset to push for a second goal after scoring first, rather than allowing the momentum to swing away.

From West Brom’s perspective, the late goal was framed as punishment for failing to take chances and a lack of discipline in the closing stages. The away side pointed to performances and chances created, but also emphasised that results have not followed, with the 10-match away losing streak described as unacceptable.

In the end, the match turned on fine margins: West Brom’s pressure and opportunities were not converted, while Leicester’s final attack produced a high-quality finish that decided the outcome.