Leicester 3-3 Fulham (AET)
Leicester win 3-0 on penalties

Fulham missed three penalties out of three, while Leicester were inch-perfect from the spot in a Worthington Cup shoot-out after a thriller at Filbert Street.

The Foxes now meet Aston Villa in the semi-finals, thanks ultimately to Pegguy Arphexad's save from Geoff Horsfield.

Chris Coleman and Paul Trollope had earlier missed their kicks completely, while Leicester's Arnar Gunlaugsson, Robbie Savage and Graham Fenton were all successful from the spot.

This was the second successive round that the Foxes have progressed in a shoot-out after their win in the last match over Leeds. Leicester were never ahead during the 90 minutes with Paul Peschosoldio and Horsfield giving the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Both goals were down to defensive errors by Steve Walsh.

But he created Leicester's lifeline with five minutes to go by setting up Ian Marshall before scoring an 87th minute equaliser himself.

Coleman took Fulham ahead again during the first period of the extra 30 minutes, before Marshall ensured the shoot-out with nine minutes to spare.

The first half had been relatively quiet, although the visitors came closest with Coleman's header denied by Gerry Taggart's block and Steve Finnan denied by Arphexad.

In the second half it was Horsfield who set up the visitors' 58th minute opener as he robbed Walsh before forcing his way into the Leicester penalty area.

The former Halifax striker squared the ball back into the path of Paul Peschisolido, who coolly side-footed past Arphexad into the roof of the net.

Leicester enjoyed plenty of chances but their finishing let them down, and it looked as though Fulham had sealed their semi-final place with 15 minutes remaining.

They scored thanks to a suicidal piece of defending from Walsh, whose pass out of defence found Peschosolido galloping through.

Although Gerry Taggart got back to help Arphexad deny the Canadian striker a second goal, the ball broke free to Horsfield to stroke into an empty net from the edge of the area.

Leicester looked down and out, but they got back level in an amazing three-minute period, as Walsh more than made up for his defensive error. On 85 minutes the defender got his head to a free kick inside the Fulham area, and Marshall hooked past Maik Taylor.

The Foxes piled men forward, and one through ball from Taggart was nodded through to Walsh charging into the Fulham area from the left.

He steadied himself before drilling an unstoppable left-footed shot past Taylor to take the game into extra-time.

With the home fans behind them, most would have backed Leicester to take the initiative in the extra 30 minutes.

But it was the visitors who drew first blood, with Coleman heading a corner into the far post three minutes into the extra period.

Still Leicester would not lie down, and Elliot set up Marshall to equalise from the edge of the box nine minutes from the end.

Heskey came closest to winning it with a drive in injury time, which was no more than two feet wide.

But come the shoot-out the Premiership side showed extra nerve and technique to make sure that a top flight side will appear in this year's final.

Gunlaugsson's first penalty for Leicester sneaked inside the post off Taylor's hand, and Coleman than blasted his wide.

Savage put the Foxes two up, before Trollope did exactly what Coleman had done, and Fenton gave Leicester clear breathing space.

Horsfield had to score to keep his side in the cup, but Arphexad leapt across to push the kick wide.

Teams:

Leicester: Arphexad, Sinclair, Taggart, Walsh, Elliott, Impey, Savage, Oakes, Zagorakis, Marshall, Heskey. Subs: Flowers, Gunnlaugsson, Gilchrist, Fenton, Thomas.

Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Melville, Coleman, Symons, Morgan, Trollope, Collins, Hayward, Horsfield, Peschisolido. Subs: Hahnemann, Brevett, Uhlenbeek, Selley, Brooker.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)