Masterclass 2 min read

Gianfranco Zola

Gianfranco Zola
Photography by Philip Haynes
Author
Tony Hodson
Published on
November 12 2021

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF SEMI FINAL SECOND LEG, MAY 12 2013

Watford 3Leicester 1 (3-2 agg)

Vydra (15, 64)
Deeney (90 +7)

Nugent (19)

In one of the most thrilling climaxes to a football match in recent memory, Watford secured their place in the 2012/13 Championship playoff final following a dramatic victory over Leicester. After Nigel Pearson's side won the playoff semi-final first leg 1-0, two goals from Matej Vydra and one from David Nugent left the tie on a knife edge heading into the closing stages of the second leg at Vicarage Road.

The Watford manager at the time was Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, who held his nerve, and had his team stick to their game plan. His side eventually beat a team that would be Premier League champions within three years after penalty drama engulfed the final stages of the game. Anthony Knockaert both won and missed a contentious injury-time spot-kick for Leicester; Watford went up the other end and Troy Deeney slammed home a winner to send the home crowd into pandemonium. 

Speaking exclusively to The Coaches' Voice, Zola tells the story of that day, how he set his team up to beat Leicester, and talks through the overwhelming emotions he felt when Deeney's strike hit the back of the net. 

Starting line-ups
WatfordLeicester City
127401217383922212091215518241610111011
Watford3-5-2
Leicester City4-4-2
1Manuel Almunia
1Kasper Schmeichel
12Lloyd Doyley
2Richie De Laet
40Joel Ekstrand
15Michael Keane
27Marco Cassetti
5Wes Morgan
21Ikechi Anya
18Jeffrey Schlupp
22Almen Abdi
24Anthony Knockaert
39Nathaniel Chalobah
16Matty James
38Cristian Battochio
10Andy King
17Matthew Briggs
11Lloyd Dyer
9Troy Deeney
35David Nugent
20Matej Vydra
39Chris Wood