LONDON, May 15: Youri Tielemans’s 30-yard strike won Leicester City the FA Cup for the first time in their 137-year history, as they defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley.
Both teams cancelled each other out in the first half but the Belgian rising star brought the game to life with a stunning opener after the break.
The Belgian collected the ball inside the Chelsea half, before smashing his powerful shot into the top corner in the 63rd minute, after a spell of dominance from the Foxes, to secure victory in front of 21,000 fans at Wembley.
Tielemans became the first Leicester player to score in an FA Cup final since Ken Keyworth in 1963 as he ended the club’s FA Cup final hoodoo.
It was then Leicester captain Kasper Schmeichel’s turn to be the hero when he denied Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount with two outstanding saves late on.
Chelsea created a number of the chances as they chased the game, with Chilwell coming close, but his header was palmed away from the bottom corner by his former Leicester teammate Schmeichel.
The goalkeeper was again called upon with four minutes left on the clock to react to a Mount drive from the edge of the area, but he was once again good enough to turn it behind in spectacular fashion.
Chelsea thought they had equalised in the 89th minute when former Leicester defender Chilwell’s cross that looked to have been deflected into his own net by veteran Wes Morgan. But video replays detected an offside that ensured Leicester finally winning world football’s oldest cup competition in the 140th final.
The Foxes had come unstuck in four previous FA Cup finals, but finally put that unwanted record to bed. (Agencies)
