Updated March 15, 2017 10:39:44

Photo: Leicester City's 2-0 home win over Sevilla put them into the Champions League quarter-finals. (AP: Rui Vieira)

Leicester City has won its way into the last eight of the Champions League, beating Sevilla 2-0 at home to advance 3-2 on aggregate.

The team was down and almost out in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Spain, losing 2-0 until a late away goal by Jamie Vardy gave the Foxes hope.

On the team's arrival back in England, beloved manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked by the club, triggering anger at the owners and the players who had failed to live up to their title-winning form from last year.

Since then Leicester has been on the improve under caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare, who was recently confirmed to stay in the post until the end of the season.

On Wednesday (AEDT) in front of a roaring crowd, waving blue and white flags in Leicester, the Foxes came out needing to win 1-0 to go through on away goals.

Wes Morgan got the go-ahead score, kneeing the ball home from a Riyad Mahrez free kick in the 27th minute.

Then Marc Albrighton got the home crowd roaring again 10 minutes into the second half, when his left-foot drive beat Sevilla keeper Rico to make it 2-0.

Samir Nasri then made things harder for Sevilla when he was sent off, but the visitors had a chance to get back in the game.

They earned a penalty, but Kasper Schmeichel saved the spot-kick from Steven N'zonzi to keep the lead for the Foxes.

Photo: Sweet, sweet victory ... Leicester City's win over Sevilla set off celebrations on and off the pitch. (Reuters / Action Images: Carl Recine)

Leicester survived four nervous minutes of injury time, and one last attack where every Sevilla player — including the goalkeeper — was in the box for a corner kick.

The Foxes cleared the ball, and ran it down the other end to run out time. When the referee's whistle blew, it triggered emotional celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

Leicester may still be battling relegation in the Premier League, but they now find themselves two two-legged wins from a place in the Champions League final, with the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid next in line to face them.

In the other Champions League tie of the night, Juventus beat Porto 1-0 to progress to the quarter-finals 3-0 on aggregate.

But in Leicester, the fans were in celebration mode, as the Foxes' European odyssey continued.

Topics: champions-league, sport, soccer, england, spain

First posted March 15, 2017 08:35:55