Youngster Elliott Whitehouse netted a brace in what was an impressive performance by John Pemberton’s Blades and will face last season’s runners-up Aston Villa in the two-legged semi-finals.
There were a number of recognisable players amongst the Blades side; George Long, Matt Harriott, Harry Maguire, Joe Ironside and Jordan Slew have all featured in the reserves and some first team fixtures this season.
In the first half both sides cancelled each other out and despite early pressure from the Foxes it was united who made one of their chances count for anything; on 30 minutes the visitors were awarded a corner – Harriott’s shot was initially blocked but captain Whitehouse was in the right space to knock home.
United then made it two-nil with a couple minutes remaining of the half – Jordan Slew worked well down the middle before being brought down in the box by Moore. Whitehouse stepped up and finished the resulting penalty.
Both sides had equal opportunities to score in the second half but the home side sent a raid on the United goal for the final ten minutes and Schlupp beat Long at his near post to add late pressure but the Red and White Wizards did enough to secure a safe passage to Villa Park.
Leicester: Smith, Sesay (Panayiotou 63), Knight, Byrne, Moore, Taft, Myles-Tebbutt, Norburn, Hopper, Schlupp, Robinson (Warburton 74).
Unused: Brown, Brennan, Jones.
Blades: Long, Montgomery, Anderson, Harriott, Maguire, Kennedy, Barry, Whitehouse, Ironside (Martin 69), Slew (Ahmadi 90), Gregory (Pomares 82).
Unused: Willis, Deakin.