NFL
By: Ty Reeves
Leicester City defeated Chelsea to become FA Cup champions for the first time in club history, thanks to a world-class goal from Youri Tielemans. The match offered everything a fan could ask for. Drama, intensity, and thanks to the 6,000 fans in attendance, some sort of normality.
Both teams lined up with similar formations, choosing to play with wing-backs rather than a traditional four defenders. Since arriving at Chelsea, manager Thomas Tuchel has been known to leave talent on the bench, in favor of experience. This was shown once again with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kai Havertz, and Ben Chilwell all being left on the bench to start the match.
Statistically, Chelsea dominated the match from beginning to end. The Blues had 65% possession and outshot the Foxes thirteen to six, three of which were on target. However, on the back of Tielemans and some timely saves from Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester was able to take home the silverware.
Chelsea’s first major chance came in the 23rd minute when midfielder Mason Mount spun off his defender and attempted a shot that went just wide of the post. The Blues would have another chance in the 29th minute when a glancing header from striker Timo Werner went wide of the net. Neither team would be able to get ahead of the other and the two sides went into halftime level.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 63rd minute when Tielemans’ wonder strike sailed into the top left corner of the goal, awarding the Foxes the lead. The goal was then checked due to a controversial handball claim by the Chelsea players, but the goal would stand.
What a moment 🤩#FACupFinal pic.twitter.com/Jf6dBgMT3v
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 15, 2021
Throughout the last 30 minutes of the match, Schmeichel would come up huge for Leicester to keep the Foxes ahead. In the 78th minute, Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell headed the ball towards the corner, but a crucial touch by Schmeichel pushed the ball wide off the post.
In the 87th minute, Chelsea defender Reece James crossed a ball into the Leicester box. After a failed clearance from the defender, the ball fell to Mount who struck the ball first-time towards goal. At full extension, Schmeichel would make a world-class save to keep the Foxes ahead in the match.
In the final minutes of the match, Leicester would concede an own goal that would put the game level with only extra time remaining. A failed clearance by defender Caglar Soyuncu hit fellow defender Wes Morgan and make its way into the net. However, after a VAR check, the goal was ruled out after offsides were awarded. Leicester would hold on to win the match and the FA Cup for the first time ever.
For Chelsea, it’s another heartbreaking end to their FA Cup campaign after losing in the finals for the second year in a row. Chelsea now finds themselves in a fight for the top four in the Premier League, but they still have a Champions League final to look forward to against EPL champions Manchester City.
