FA Cup 2020-21 final: Leicester City edges past Chelsea following VAR drama to win maiden title

This was Leicester City’s maiden FA Cup title win after finishing as runner-up on four occasions, while Chelsea was in the hunt for his ninth. Also, it was Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers’ first FA Cup title win and his first title with Leicester, besides being his first in England.

<p>English football giant Leicester City came up with an edgy but steady performance to tame fellow English giant Chelsea 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup at the Wimbley Stadium in London on Saturday. It was Leicester’s maiden title win of the competition, besides being its first title under Brendan Rodgers.</p>

English football giant Leicester City came up with an edgy but steady performance to tame fellow English giant Chelsea 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup at the Wimbley Stadium in London on Saturday. It was Leicester’s maiden title win of the competition, besides being its first title under Brendan Rodgers.

<p><strong>The match</strong><br />Both teams were off to a slow start, as the sides could manage just four promising attacks in the opening half, with three of them coming from Chelsea. However, none of them could find the back of the end, as the deadlock remained in place at half-time.</p>

The match
Both teams were off to a slow start, as the sides could manage just four promising attacks in the opening half, with three of them coming from Chelsea. However, none of them could find the back of the end, as the deadlock remained in place at half-time.

<p>Following the restart, Youri Tielemans fired in a brilliant goal for Leicester in the 67th minute, in a long-range effort that happened to be 25 yards out, as he smashed the ball into the top-left corner, following an assist from Luke Thomas. However, The Blues was not done yet.</p>

Following the restart, Youri Tielemans fired in a brilliant goal for Leicester in the 67th minute, in a long-range effort that happened to be 25 yards out, as he smashed the ball into the top-left corner, following an assist from Luke Thomas. However, The Blues was not done yet.

<p>It was followed by two decent attacks from the Londoners by the 87th minute, only to be perfectly denied by Kasper Schmeichel. Nonetheless, a minute later, Thomas Tuchel’s felt that they had drawn the equaliser from Ben Chilwell, only to be ruled out offside in a close call by the Video Assistant Referee, as Leicester managed to take home the gold in the end.</p>

It was followed by two decent attacks from the Londoners by the 87th minute, only to be perfectly denied by Kasper Schmeichel. Nonetheless, a minute later, Thomas Tuchel’s felt that they had drawn the equaliser from Ben Chilwell, only to be ruled out offside in a close call by the Video Assistant Referee, as Leicester managed to take home the gold in the end.

<p><strong>Stat-attack</strong><br />- Kasper Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to start as a captain in an FA Cup final since David James in 2010. He is also the first goalkeeper to captain the side and win it since David Seaman in 2003.<br />- Tuchel became the first German manager to lead a side in the tournament’s final.<br />- Tielemans is the first Leicester player to score in the competition’s final since Ken Keyworth in 1963. He is also the third Belgian player after Eden Hazard (2018) and Kevin De Bruyne (2019) to score in the final and win the title.<br />- Rogers is the first manager to win the English and Scottish FA Cup title since Sir Alex Ferguson. He is also the first Irish to do so since Terry Neill in 1979.<br />- Chelsea finished as runner-up of the tournament for the first time in consecutive seasons since Newcastle United (1998 and 1999).</p>

Stat-attack
- Kasper Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to start as a captain in an FA Cup final since David James in 2010. He is also the first goalkeeper to captain the side and win it since David Seaman in 2003.
- Tuchel became the first German manager to lead a side in the tournament’s final.
- Tielemans is the first Leicester player to score in the competition’s final since Ken Keyworth in 1963. He is also the third Belgian player after Eden Hazard (2018) and Kevin De Bruyne (2019) to score in the final and win the title.
- Rogers is the first manager to win the English and Scottish FA Cup title since Sir Alex Ferguson. He is also the first Irish to do so since Terry Neill in 1979.
- Chelsea finished as runner-up of the tournament for the first time in consecutive seasons since Newcastle United (1998 and 1999).

<p><strong>Reaction</strong><br />Following the same, Tielemans commented on the VAR by saying, “Thank you, VAR! Really, what an amazing thing that is! It’s a tough decision, but when you have to make it, you have to make it. Maybe, it was tight, but it was offside, and you have to give that call.”</p>

Reaction
Following the same, Tielemans commented on the VAR by saying, “Thank you, VAR! Really, what an amazing thing that is! It’s a tough decision, but when you have to make it, you have to make it. Maybe, it was tight, but it was offside, and you have to give that call.”

<p>“It feels really good! It’s amazing! I am really glad to score the goal that helped the team to win the game. It was a really tight game. To score in the final ... what a goal that was! I am really happy for the team and the fans! The goal was really good!” he concluded.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitise, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona</strong></p>

“It feels really good! It’s amazing! I am really glad to score the goal that helped the team to win the game. It was a really tight game. To score in the final ... what a goal that was! I am really happy for the team and the fans! The goal was really good!” he concluded.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitise, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona