SBOTOP: Femi Azeez Fires Millwall to Victory as the Lions Tame Leicester City in a Narrow 1–0 Clash

Under the glowing floodlights of The Den, Millwall delivered one of their most resolute performances of the season, overcoming promotion favourites Leicester City with a gritty 1–0 win that will live long in the memory of their supporters. The hero of the night was Femi Azeez, whose first-half strike proved decisive in a clash that showcased determination, discipline, and defensive brilliance from the South London side.

The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. Fans packed into The Den knew that their side would have to be at their absolute best to take anything from Leicester — a team blessed with Premier League quality and a deep bench of international talent. Yet, as so often happens in English football’s fiercely competitive landscape, desire and organisation trumped reputation.

By the final whistle, the roar from the Millwall faithful was deafening. The Lions had not only claimed three precious points but also sent a message to the rest of the Championship: they are not to be underestimated, especially on home soil.

A Fierce Start Millwall Set the Tone Early

From the opening whistle, Millwall’s intent was clear. Manager Joe Edwards set his side up in a compact 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to frustrate Leicester’s fluid attacking rhythm. While the visitors enjoyed early spells of possession, Millwall pressed aggressively in key areas, closing down spaces and forcing errors from Leicester’s usually composed back line.

It didn’t take long for the Lions to carve out their first chance. In the 7th minute, Zian Flemming intercepted a loose pass in midfield and surged forward before releasing Ryan Longman on the flank. Longman’s cross found Kevin Nisbet, whose header flashed narrowly over the bar. It was a warning shot — and a sign that Millwall were not simply there to defend.

Leicester, managed by Enzo Maresca, responded in typical fashion. The Foxes began to dominate the ball, pushing their full-backs high and attempting to break down Millwall’s stubborn defensive shape. Wilfred Ndidi and Harry Winks orchestrated the tempo from midfield, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looked to exploit gaps between the lines.

However, Millwall’s back four — marshalled superbly by Jake Cooper and Shaun Hutchinson — stood tall. Every cross was cleared, every second ball contested. The physical presence of the Lions unsettled Leicester, who struggled to impose their usual rhythm.

The Breakthrough Azeez Strikes with Precision

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute, and it was a moment of pure opportunism from Femi Azeez. Leicester had been probing, but when George Saville dispossessed Winks near the halfway line, Millwall countered swiftly. Saville released Flemming, who advanced down the right before cutting a clever pass across the top of the box. The ball found Azeez in stride — and with one swift touch to steady himself, he unleashed a crisp low drive that beat Mads Hermansen at his near post.

The Den erupted. The roar was deafening as Azeez sprinted to the corner flag, fists pumping in celebration. For the 22-year-old winger, it was a statement moment — a reminder of his growing importance in this Millwall side.

Leicester’s defenders looked stunned. Despite controlling much of the possession, they had been undone by a moment of incisive counter-attacking play — the very kind of strike Millwall specialise in.

The remainder of the half saw Leicester push for an equaliser, but they found themselves repeatedly frustrated. Jamie Vardy, ever the predator, came close with a header in the 43rd minute that grazed the crossbar, but it was as close as the visitors would come before halftime.

As the whistle blew, Millwall led 1–0 — and The Den was bouncing.

Second Half Leicester Turn Up the Pressure

The second half began with Leicester showing greater urgency. Maresca’s men upped their tempo, circulating the ball quickly and pushing more bodies forward. The introduction of Kelechi Iheanacho added an extra dimension to their attack, giving the Foxes a focal point capable of holding up play and drawing defenders out of position.

For a 15-minute spell after the restart, it seemed as though an equaliser was inevitable. Dewsbury-Hall fired narrowly wide from distance, while Vardy had a goal ruled out for offside after a smart through ball from Ndidi. The Foxes were relentless — but so was Millwall’s resistance.

Goalkeeper Matija Sarkic delivered a masterclass in composure, pulling off several crucial saves to keep his side ahead. His best moment came in the 63rd minute when a curling effort from Dewsbury-Hall appeared destined for the top corner, only for Sarkic to tip it over with a fingertip stop that drew raucous applause from the home crowd.

Every tackle, every interception from the Lions was met with a roar from the stands. Cooper and Hutchinson were immovable pillars in the heart of defence, while Danny McNamara and Murray Wallace covered tirelessly down the flanks.

Azeez, too, continued to shine — not only as the match-winner but also as a tireless outlet in transition. His pace and dribbling caused constant problems for Leicester’s high line, forcing Maresca’s men to think twice before committing too many players forward.

Midfield Battle Saville and Leonard Dictate the Fight

Much of Millwall’s success stemmed from their control of the central midfield battle. George Saville and Ryan Leonard were immense — combining grit, intelligence, and relentless energy to disrupt Leicester’s build-up play.

Saville’s leadership was particularly evident. The 31-year-old orchestrated pressing triggers, directed his teammates, and was often the first to snap into challenges that broke Leicester’s rhythm. Leonard, meanwhile, covered every blade of grass, intercepting passes and recycling possession efficiently.

For Leicester, it was a frustrating experience. Winks struggled to find his usual passing lanes, while Ndidi’s attempts to drive the team forward were repeatedly stifled. The Foxes had plenty of the ball but struggled to convert possession into genuine threat.

Final Twenty Minutes The Den Becomes a Fortress

As the match entered its final phase, Leicester threw everything at Millwall. Maresca made attacking substitutions — bringing on Patson Daka and Marc Albrighton to add fresh impetus. The Foxes committed men forward, pushing Millwall deeper into their defensive third.

What followed was a masterclass in game management from the Lions. Edwards’ side maintained discipline, defending in numbers but still posing a counter-attacking threat when opportunities arose. Flemming almost doubled the lead in the 78th minute with a curling shot from outside the box that narrowly missed the top corner.

The crowd, sensing the magnitude of the moment, roared with every clearance, every block. Leicester’s frustration grew — crosses were repelled, long shots went astray, and time began to slip away.

In stoppage time, Leicester came agonisingly close to equalising. A deep corner found Ndidi, whose powerful header was parried by Sarkic. The rebound fell to Vardy, but his follow-up effort was blocked heroically by Cooper, who threw himself across the line to preserve the clean sheet.

When the referee finally blew for full time, players collapsed to the ground — some in exhaustion, others in jubilation. The Den erupted once more, echoing with chants of pride and belief.