Leicester City have defeated Chelsea to be crowned the 2021 FA Cup Champions, their first FA Cup title on their fifth trial, having previously lost all four finals they've played in, courtesy of a lone breathtaking screamer from Belgium international, Youri Tielemans. They became the 44th different team to lift the trophy.
It was a final of Blues as Chelsea faced Leicester City on Saturday in the 140th FA Cup Final at the Wembley stadium. The first time since 2013 that the final was played before the end of the league season.
Leicester City playing in their first FA Cup final since 1969 were up against last season's losing finalist, Chelsea, who have also reached four of the last five finals of the FA Cup.
Thomas Tuchel made five changes to his team that lost to Arsenal on Wednesday, retaining Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal while Brendan Rodgers made just one change to the team that defeated Manchester United, with Johnny Evans coming in for Mark Albrighton in defence.
The only meaningful goalscoring opportunity came in the 15th minute when Leicester City hit Chelsea on a counterattack. Marcos Alonso had sent a cross across the field but was unable to find Timo Werner, which allowed Timothy Castagne to charge down the right side, before sending a cross to Jamie Vardy in the middle, who hit the ball first time but Reece James was on hand to block the effort .
It was a game starved of clear goalscoring opportunities in the early exchanges as though, Chelsea saw more of the ball, both teams failed to create any spark in the final third.
Arguably, the major highlight of the first half came in the 32nd minute when Johnny Evans who was just returning to the lineup dropped on the pitch after picking up an injury and was replaced by Albrighton, whom he had also earlier come in for.
Leicester City started the better side after the interval, dominating possession and finally got their breakthrough on the 63rd minute.
Reece James tried to play a pass out of defence into the midfield which was intercepted by Ayoze Perez, allowing 19-year old Thomas find Youri Tielemans with the loose ball. From 25 yards out, the Belgian let one fly into the top left corner. No goalkeeper would have stopped that.
The goal was reviewed for a possible handball by Perez as he intercepted the pass but replays showed that the ball hit his knee and off his hand, hence, no foul as he had no time to react. The goal, stood.
Chelsea continued to mount pressure but had nothing to show for it. Their first real chance came with 12 minutes of the duration to go.
A cross from N'golo Kante was well met by a powerful header from Ben Chilwell at the far post. The England international was denied by Kasper Schmeichel to his bottom right. The Danish goalkeeper is the first shot-stopper since David James in 2010 to captain a team in the FA Cup Final.
With the clock winding down, Chelsea continued to gather momentum and another glorious opportunity, a half chance, fell to Mason Mount just inside the penalty area from which he took a snapshot, but was well denied again by another Schmeichel heroics.
The Champions League finalist eventually found the net at the death of the game.
A neat through ball by Thiago Silva found the overlapping Chilwell who fired in a shot that hit several bodies before eventually spinning into the back of the net off 35-year old Wes Morgan, who was playing his first match since November 2020 and a surviving member of the title-winning team of Leicester City of 2016.
The goal was chalked off after VAR review showed that Chilwell was inches offside in the build up. What a heartbreak for Chelsea.
The battle line has just been drawn between both teams as they meet again on Tuesday, this time in the premier league, to slug it our for a place in next season's Champions League, with Leicester City in third position, two points ahead of Chelsea and two matches to go.
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