Tielemans stunner wins FA Cup for Leicester
Amagnificent long- range strike from Youri Tielemans gave Leicester City their first FA Cup triumph with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, in front of the biggest crowd in England since March 2020.
A landmark day, as 21 000 fans returned to the national stadium after last year’s final was played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, ended with emotional scenes as Leicester’s Thai owner was invited on to the field to celebrate with the team.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha’s father Vichai, whose ownership helped transform the Midlands club, died in 2018 in a helicopter crash at Leicester’s stadium.
“We have a picture (of him) on the inside of our shirts so he’s always with us. This is what we’ve dreamt of and talked about for so long,” said Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel whose late saves were crucial to the victory.
Leicester had been beaten in all their four previous FA Cup final appearances, most recently in 1969, and it was a goal that will be remembered as one of the finest in the competition’s 149-year history that earned their maiden win.
For Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers this was his first trophy in English football to follow his successes in Scotland with Celtic.
“It’s an amazing feeling, I wasn’t aware before I came to Leicester that they’d never won the FA Cup, they’d lost in four finals previous so to be able to give that to the owners and the fans, so special. So proud, the board, players, staff and supporters, it is an amazing day for the city. Youri Tieleman’s goal was like an old school FA cup winning goal but also Kasper Schmeichel’s save, those are the special moments you need in games,” the Northern Irishman said.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel still has a chance of lifting silverware when Chelsea face Manchester City in the Champions League final on 29 May in Porto.