LEICESTER have won the FA Cup final after a sensational strike from Youri Tielemans saw them overcame Chelsea.But there was last minute drama as the Blues thought they had equalised through a Wes Morgan own goal.
However, their hopes of forcing extra time were dashed as former Fox Ben Chilwell was ruled offside by VAR.
Victory was all the more special for the Foxes with the game played out in front of their adoring fans.
A 21,000 capacity was in attendance at Wembley today – the highest crowd at a sporting event in the UK since the start of the pandemic.
Get all the reaction from a sensational FA Cup final here…
UGLY SCENES
Fans appeared to boo Chelsea and Leicester City players this evening as they took the knee before the FA Cup final.
Booing sounds were audible from both sides of Wembley as the Foxes won the competition for the first time in their history.
Just before play began at 5:15pm this evening, both sets of players took the knee in a show of solidarity against racism.
The protest, which has become customary at football matches since the resumption of the Premier League in June 2020, appeared to be booed by a minority of Chelsea and Leicester fans.
VARDY PARTY
A fan-favourite Inbetweeners reference from the man who played in every round of the FA Cup.
FEELING THE BLUES
Daniel Amartey has courted controversy with a new video from the Leicester dressing room.
Following the Foxes’ FA Cup final victory the midfielder was seen throwing Chelsea’s FA Cup final pennant to the ground.
SWEET CAROLINE
Here’s how the Leicester dressing room looked after they won the FA Cup for the first time!
THE SUN SAYS
Everything the European Super League wanted to destroy.The greatest cup competition in the world, you’ll never take these wins away from the fans.That’s what football’s all about. #FACup pic.twitter.com/uJPE8eKgJ7— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) May 15, 2021
BLUE BOTTLE
SunSport’s Simon Phillips writes: “Chelsea could have played until midnight tonight and they still wouldn’t have scored against Leicester City in the FA Cup final.
“The Blues folded – and they didn’t deserve to even take this match into extra time.
“This isn’t saying that Leicester were good because they were ok – certainly not good.
“Chelsea were just terribly awful – and for a number of reasons.
“They were playing in a cup final, but you would not have guessed it.
“The Blues were lacklustre – playing at about 60 per cent intensity – and had no ideas to create or break Leicester down.
“They were very poor – and even Thomas Tuchel needs take some blame on this one.
“Yes, Chelsea did score late on with the goal being ruled out for VAR, but even then, you just knew it would be ruled out because it was one of those days for Chelsea.”
CITY SLICKER
Riyad Mahrez was another former Leicester City star to congratulate the Foxes following their FA Cup triumph.
‘VICHAI WILL BE SMILING’
Man Utd captain Harry Maguire has tweeted his congratulations to Leicester following their FA Cup final triumph.
The Red Devils star spent two years with the Foxes before moving to Old Trafford in 2019.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Leicester fans have voted Kasper Schmeichel their Man of the Match following two sensational saves against Chelsea.
Youri Tielemans was second after his brilliant strike secured the FA Cup for the Foxes.
Heroes all over the pitch.Who gets your vote for the @SyinixKE Man of the Match? 🦊🏆— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 15, 2021
MORE FROM TUCHEL
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel didn’t seem to be questioning VAR’s decision to overrule the Blues’ equaliser, but insists they were “unlucky” regardless.
Here’s what Tuchel told BT Sport: “I think we are just unlucky today. I don’t see why Leicester should win this game except for a shot in the top corner from out of nothing.
“I thought we controlled the counter-attacks excellent, I thought we controlled the strikers and midfield excellent, we did not allow one chance, one half-chance, nothing. We had maybe a sure goal with [Cesar] Azpilicueta only for someone to deflect it in front of him, we were a bit too hectic in decision-making, we had many situations.
“In the second half we had total control, we concede a goal out of nothing, we had a big save from [Kasper] Schmeichel and a narrow decision for offside, so altogether it’s super-unlucky. It can happen in football. If it happens in a final it is not good, we are disappointed, but there is no need to be angry with anybody.
“We wanted it a bit too much, we were a bit hectic, our decisions were not so good as normal, but I am not angry at them. We deserved to score, and for me it is much more 1-0 for us than 1-0 for them, but this can happen in football and you accept it. Once you enter a final there is no guarantee”
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TUCHEL REACTS
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is satisfied with his players’ performance and suggested that the FA Cup Final came down to luck.
Tuchel said: “We are disappointed and not angry with our performance from the boys. I think the performance is enough to win it. I think today we were unlucky and we’ve never hidden that we need to have that to win at this level. You need momentum, decision making, little details, the referee.
“I think we defended well, counter-pressed well, didn’t allow counter-attacks by one of the best counter-attacking sides in Europe.
“Our decision making in the first half was too hectic, we tried to force the solution. We created two against two and three against three situations that were more promising than we made of it.
“We had a big chance with Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] and in the second half we controlled the game. We conceded a goal from nothing. It’s a fantastic goal and a lucky goal. We have a chance from Mason [Mount], an offside goal that was very close. We were unlucky today”
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MORE FROM RODGERS
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers admits the FA Cup triumph “hasn’t quite sunk in yet”.
Rodgers defeated his former team Chelsea, where he used to work as a head coach in the academy and reserve team.
The 48-year-old has come a long way in his career and has established himself as a top Premier League boss.
Here’s what he told BT Sport:
RODGERS REACTS
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers shared his thoughts after leading the Foxes to their first ever FA Cup trophy.
Rodgers told the BBC: “It’s an amazing feeling.
“I wasn’t aware before I came to Leicester that they hadn’t won the FA Cup. So to be able to give that to these supporters, plus Top [Srivaddhanaprabha] and his family, makes this a special day.
“It’s a real collective effort at Leicester, from the board, players, staff and supporters. It’s an amazing day for the city.
“Youri’s [Tielemans] goal was like an old-school FA Cup winning goal, but also Kasper’s [Schmeichel] saves. I thought we were the better team overall. We were super-aggressive and always a threat with the ball.
“Chelsea are an amazing team but I though we deserved to win. It’s the FA Cup, and as a British coach, it means so much. I’m so proud, but more happy for everyone else. A monumental performance and what a day for everyone involved with Leicester”
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KEL-ING IT
This is a night of celebration for the city of Leicester.
But not sure how many are going to party like Kelechi Iheanacho.
However, Iheanacho deserves this moment as he’s been very influential in this season’s FA Cup campaign.
The striker registered four goals and one assist in all of his six matches in the competition
REACHING THE TOP
We have seen the relationship between elite club owners and players, managers as well as fans getting fractured in recent weeks following the European Super League fiasco.
But then there is Leicester and their chairman Aiyawatt ‘Khun Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha who has worked wonders at King Power Stadium with his family.
Khun Top saw his late father Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha do the unthinkable and lead the club to Premier League glory in 2016.
Vichai’s son is continuing his work as he just took Leicester to their first ever FA Cup trophy.
That’s what happens when the hierarchy love and take care of their club
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TOP TRIBUTE
Leicester star Youri Tielemans scored the winner in the FA Cup Final and was named Man of the Match.
Tielemans dedicated his goal and victory to the fans as well as chairman Aiyawatt ‘Khun Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha.
The star midfielder also paid tribute to Khun Top’s late father Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was in charge when the Foxes became Premier League champions five years ago.
Here’s what the Belgium international had to say:
VARDY PARTY
Leicester star Jamie Vardy took a couple of minutes out of the ongoing party to give an interview to BT Sport’s Des Kelly.
However, the discussion was cut short by Foxes captain Kasper Schmeichel who pulled his team-mate away on camera for the trophy celebration.
That’s one way to leave an interview…
Check it out:
CAMPEONES
Leicester have won their first ever FA Cup trophy!
Kasper Schmeichel lifted the trophy with legendary captain Wes Morgan, who wore the armband in the Premier League triumph five years ago.
The Foxes have built something incredible with a fantastic manager in Brendan Rodgers, a raft of talented players like Schmeichel, Jamie Vardy, Youri Tielemans, James Madisson and more as well as a strong bond with the community.
What a moment!
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SCHMEICHEL REACTS
Leicester captain Kasper Schmeichel was one of the team’s biggest heroes in the final thanks to some crucial saves.
Here’s what Schmeichel told BBC Sport: “I am so happy; I cannot begin to describe it. What a day!
“Amazing, indescribable, this is what dreams are made of. I have dreamt of this since I was a child. What a performance today, the grit and determination, I am so proud of everybody.
“When you work together and do things properly this is what you can achieve”
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WASN’T MEANT TO BEN
Here’s why Chelsea’s equaliser was overruled by VAR.
Chelsea ace Ben Chilwell appears to be a fraction offside after picking up Thiago Silva’s ball down the left flank.
Chilwell then got the ball past Kasper Shmeichel and Caglar Soyuncu’s clearance hit Wes Morgan before ending in the back of the net.
Check it out:
LAST KASP SAVE
As mentioned below, Leicester have a lot to thank goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for.
Schmeichel denied a header by former team-mate Ben Chilwell in the second half.
But the Denmark international’s biggest save occurred later when he blocked a neat shot by Mason Mount.
Check it out:
STATS
Leicester won the FA Cup even though Chelsea dominated 64 per cent of possession in the final.
The Foxes registered a total of six shots, with only one of them being on target.
The Blues, on the other hand, got 13 shots but only three of them were on target.
Leicester have a lot to thank Kasper Schmeichel for as he made three crucial saves in the final.
More below:
FT: CHELSEA 0-1 LEICESTER
Leicester won their first ever FA Cup title after beating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium!
In what was a dramatic second half, following a hapless first 45 minutes, the Foxes scored the winner with a screamer by Youri Tielemans.
Tielemans picked up the ball from 30 yards and fired a sensational shot which hit Kepa Arrizabalaga’s top right corner after 63 minutes.
Chelsea thought they equalised on 89 minutes following an own goal by Wes Morgan, which was overruled by VAR as Ben Chilwell was caught offside in the build-up
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
LEICESTER HAVE JUST WON THEIR FIRST EVER FA CUP!!!!!
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