Youri Tielemans stunner seals Leicester City FA Cup victory over Chelsea
Leicester City have won the FA Cup for the first time in their history with a sensational strike from Youri Tielemans sinking Chelsea at Wembley.
With 21,000 fans in attendance, the biggest post-lockdown crowd in the UK, Tielemans produced an iconic cup moment with his 30-yard strike after 63 minutes winning it for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Chelsea were denied a late equaliser in the most dramatic of circumstances, with former Leicester defender Ben Chilwell ruled offside by the smallest of margins by VAR after his cross had deflected home.
Leicester win the trophy at the fifth time of asking having fallen short in the previous four trips to Wembley.
Jonny Evans was deemed fit enough to start for the Foxes having missed his side’s last two games with a heel injury. Slotting into a back three alongside Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu.
But the Northern Ireland international’s afternoon came to an end after 33 minutes, forced off with the same issue prompting a reshape from Rodgers, who switched to a back four with Marc Albrighton onto replace him.
During a somewhat tense first half where no shots on target were registered, Chelsea looked the more threatening without troubling Kasper Schmeichel.
Cesar Azpilicueta was inches away from connecting with a header at the back post with Timo Werner finding space to drive at the Leicester backline, but unable to find the target.
A tame header from Marcos Alonso after 54 minutes comfortably collected by Schmeichel gave us the first effort on goal of the contest. The next one was worth the wait, however. With Thiago Silva backing off, Tielemans lashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner, beating Kepa in the Chelsea goal and sparking jubilant celebrations with the Leicester fans in attendance.
Chelsea players confronted Michael Oliver to unsuccessfully protest the goal – adamant Ayoze Perez had blocked the ball with his arm leading to the break in play from which Tielemans struck.
It shook the Blues into life with Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz all thrown on as Tuchel went all-out attack.
Ben Chilwell was also brought on to bring his former side crashing back down to earth, with his towering header drawing a superb diving save out of Schmeichel as the final 10 minutes of the final closed in.
With serial FA Cup winner Olivier Giroud also introduced, Rodgers called upon the Foxes’ 2015-16 title-winning captain Wes Morgan for what is likely to be his last appearance for the club.
Morgan watched on in horror as Chilwell’s cross in the 89th minute cannoned off him and into the back of the net to seemingly level the final again.
But Chelsea’s celebrations was halted with VAR ruling the full-back offside.
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