GEORGI KINKLADZE lit the blue touch paper as goal starved Manchester City went goal crazy at Maine Road last night.
The Georgian international was the inspiration behind everything as City cut Leicester down to size in clinical fashion to book a FA Cup fourth round trip to Coventry on Saturday week.
City were held to a goal less draw in the first game at Leicester, but there was never any danger of them drawing a blank in last night's replay as Kinkladze produced a master class performance.
City doused Leicester's early fire with two goals inside the first 18 minutes as Kinkladze took a grip on the game in stunning fashion.
His curling 10th minute free kick from the right allowed Uwe Rosler to claim his sixth goal of the campaign with a downward header.
Kevin Poole twice denied Rosler from adding to his tally with brave saves, but there was little the Leicester goalkeeper or any of his defenders could do when Kinkladze struck in spectacular fashion eight minutes later.
Garry Parker could only watch as the little midfielder burst past him midway in the Manchester half, and Kinkladze swept a full 60 yards before skipping around Colin Hall and burying a low 18 yard drive beyond the despairing left hand of Poole.
It took another excellent save by Poole to prevent Niall Quinn from adding to City's tally on 37 minutes, Quinn powered in a header that was beaten away in equally expert style after Nicky Summerbee had crossed from the right.
City got their third goal on 50 minutes, Quinn netting his fifth of the season from close range after Garry Flitcroft's shot was blocked on the line.
It was party time for the City fans again five minutes later when more Kinkladze magic set up Steve Lomas
Simon Grayson lifted Leicester's spirits with a powerful run which looked certain to bring a goal only for Kit Symons to get a late block on the full back's shot.
That was the signal for City to score a fifth goal after 80 minutes with Kinkladze once again the architect. Gerry Creaney a 76th minute substitute for Quinn was the beneficiary, beating Leicester's offside trap to collect Kinkladze's cutting through ball and beat Poole with a rasping drive that cannoned in off a post.
