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Tielemans’ classic strike is perfect FA Cup Final winner f
YOURI TIELEMANS won the FA Cup with a goal as good as any this famous old competition has ever produced.
Thirty yards out and closing at a rate of knots, the Belgium midfielder let rip with a strike so pure that Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga did well to even see it as it tore into the top corner.
It was the 2021 version of Ronnie Radford, Paul Gascoigne and Steven Gerrard.
It was up there with Charlie George, Keith Houchen and Ricky
Villa. Or any goal that the Cup has produced during the last 149 years.
It was a shame there were only 21,000 fans in Wembley to see it – and that a VAR check was required to break Chelsea hearts after a late equaliser by former Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell was ruled out by a marginal offside call.
But what a way to win the Freedom Final.
What a way to lift the Cup for the first time, five years after writing the greatest Premier League story ever told.
“I am very proud,” said Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers (right).
“Seeing the happiness on everyone’s faces makes this a very special day.
“It’s an historic day for the club, winning the FA Cup for the first time.
“I am so happy for the players, the supporters who have seen us lose four previous finals and, of course, the chairman and his family.
“It was a dream of our owners to win the FA Cup – and now we have done that.”
Anyone who doubts what the Cup still means would have been wondering why there were tears of both triumph and desolation at the end. Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel (right) said: “Of course, we are disappointed, but I am not angry with the performance.
“We were simply unlucky. You need luck to win at this level.
“We missed a great chance in the first half – probably the best chance of the whole game.
“Then they scored a fantastic goal
– but a lucky goal, of course. I think we must accept that we were unlucky.”
Chelsea dominated this 140th final for long periods, but it was only when they fell behind that Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel was shaken out of his comfort zone.
Even when Jonny Evans limped off after 32 minutes – when the heel injury that had made him a doubt for the game flared – Rodgers had a game plan to keep the Londoners at bay.
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Everything the German tried had Tuchel throwing his hands in the air in frustration.
Four times Werner took aim in the first 45 minutes – and failed to trouble Schmeichel once.
Leicester finally got to grips with their task after another shaky start to the second half.
Tielemans tried to rally the Foxes fans with a fist-pump after forcing a corner just before the hour.
And then, on 63 minutes, he seized his place in history.
Chelsea complained that Ayoze Perez had handled when the ball broke towards Tielemans. But when the Londoners backed off, they paid the ultimate price.
Rodgers said: “It was a classic FA Cup Final – and the goal by Youri was good enough to win any game.”
Chelsea’s response was furious.
Chilwell saw his downward header bounce off the post and Schmeichel saved brilliantly from Mason Mount’s snapshot.
Then, with three minutes left, Chilwell somehow forced the ball over the line after Schmeichel had saved his initial effort.
Pandemonium at one end of the stadium, shock at the other. Until a VAR check reversed the roles.
“We knew we would suffer,” said Rodgers. “But I think we were worthy winners.”