A two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final in January can be penned into the Blues’ already well-inked 2014 diaries after Aleksandar Kolarov gave the Blues a seventh minute lead with a stunning free-kick, before Edin Dzeko doubled the advantage five minutes before half-time.
Dzeko put the tie to bed after 52 minutes with a composed finish from the edge of the area and the hosts grabbed a consolation through Lloyd Dyer with 15 minutes to go.
In winning their third consecutive game in all competitions, merciless City scored their 73rd, 74th and 75th goals of the season.
The Foxes had overcome Wycombe, Carlisle, Derby and Fulham to reach the last eight and it’s fair to say that Manuel Pellegrini wasn’t prepared to take any chances on progressing further in the competition.
If the home supporters inside the King Power Stadium harboured hopes that the Chilean may offer opportunities to some of the younger, less battle-hardened members of his squad, there was disappointment in store.
Although there were eight changes to the team that thrashed Arsenal on Saturday, the 60-year retained Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva in an experienced XI that has accounted for a combined 418 international caps.
It was a line-up that served as a clear indication that the faint, enticing aroma of silverware was in the East Midlands air with Wembley just 180 minutes away for the night’s victors.
Jack Rodwell made his first start since the 2-0 win over Newcastle in the last round, while Javi Garcia, James Milner and Jesus Navas made up the rest of the midfield, with Silva playing in behind the returning Dzeko.
Stevan Jovetic travelled with the party but was taken ill just before kick-off. Something he ate, according to the boss in his post match press conference.
High-flying Leicester had a familiar face between the sticks in the shape of City Academy graduate Kasper Schmeichel and manager Nigel Pearson was also able to call upon 10-goal striker David Nugent in attack.
...Leicester v City: Match report...
Leicester were aiming to end a run of seven winless home games against the visitors but to do that they would need to become the first to breach City’s goal in the competition this season.
However, it was the visitors who went closest to opening the scoring when Rodwell raced onto a Dzeko through ball after five minutes but Schmeichel was out quickly and blocked the midfielder’s attempts to fire home from close range.
The reprieve would only last another two minutes as Kolarov fired home his second goal in a week with a sublime, unstoppable free-kick from 25 yards out.
City’s joy would soon turn to disquiet just a few minutes later as Zabaleta hobbled off with a suspected hamstring injury, leaving the Blues without a fit, recognised right-back in their first-team ranks.
Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata came on to fill in an unfamiliar role and, while the Foxes’ threat occasionally flickered in wholehearted counter raids, it was the quality at the away side’s disposal that would combine to engineer the game’s next clear cut opportunity.
Rodwell and Silva were the architects, working in tandem to cross halfway and create space for Kolarov in behind the home defence on the left side.
...Leicester v City: Match report...
Kolarov’s cross was made to measure for Dzeko but Schmeichel pulled off his second excellent save of the night to deny Edin his third Capital One Cup goal of the season from six yards out.
With eight minutes of the first period left, the lively Bosnian was at it again, turning inside his marker and firing off a shot which had the Danish keeper scrambling but just whistled wide of the target.
The 27-year old would not spurn his third chance and he didn’t have to wait long for it to fall his way.
With five minutes of the half remaining, Navas’s crossfield ball found Milner on the left and the Yorkshireman’s cross deflected invitingly into Dzeko’s path for the simplest of headers.
X Factor winner Sam Bailey serenaded a full house at half-time but the contest wasn’t quite over as Pellegrini would have emphasised to his team in the away dressing room.
Leicester made a double substitution at the break in an attempt to save their Capital One Cup campaign, introducing Matthew James and Jamie Vardy.
...Leicester v City: Match report...
Andy King forced Joe Hart into his first save of the night five minutes into the second period but Dzeko put the game beyond the Foxes with his ninth goal of the season two minutes later, sidefooting the impressive Milner’s cross beyond the keeper.
With an important Premier League encounter at Craven Cottage coming up on Saturday, Pellegrini opted to bring on Samir Nasri for Silva with 20 minutes to go and the Spanish magician received warm applause from both sets of supporters.
The three-goal cushion afforded the Blues the rare opportunity to take their collective foot off the pedal in the remaining minutes to conserve energy for the challenges ahead, but there was time left for Leicester to grab a consolation through Dyer who lashed past Hart with 15 to go.
It was the first goal City have conceded in the competition this season but there was nothing the England goalkeeper could do to stop it as the shot caught a wicked deflection off Kompany on it’s route to the top corner.
That goal ushered in duelling Poznans between the supporters and brought an end to the scoring in a good natured, entertaining encounter.
Another eagerly anticipated cup draw awaits City on Wednesday night with a two legged semi-final separating the Blues from yet another trip to Wembley.
