Winning the Premier League title in 2016 was one of football’s biggest shocks and at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 15 May another Leicester City fairytale story was achieved with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.
Another Leicester City Fairytale as Chelsea Stunned in FA Cup Final
Youri Tielemans Stunner Gives Foxes FA Cup
Leicester City hadn’t played in the FA Cup Final for 52 years and never won the competition but this is a club that has been improving and building for a number of years. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha took over the club in 2010 and was a key figure in the club winning the Premier League title against all the odds in 2016 before his tragic death in a helicopter crash in October 2018.
He would have been proud of his club in this final as it was clear his son and now owner Aiyawatt was at the final whistle.
It was Belgian Youri Tielemans who gave the Foxes their sucess with a goal worthy of winning any game let alone the FA Cup Final.
Kasper Schmeichel Saves the Day
Schmeichel has the aura of his father, Peter, the legendary Manchester United keeper and at Wembley stadium he made two incredible saves that were as essential to the victory as Tielemans’ stunning strike.
The second of the two saves came as the clock ticked down and Mason Mount struck a firm left foot shot and was certain he was about to be celebrating an equaliser but Schemiechel adjusted his feet and dived to his left and with a strong hand pushed the ball away much to the delight of the Leicester fans who were enjoying their return to big match action.
VAR Breaks Chelsea Hearts
Chelsea were below par, particularly in the second 45 minutes but they thought they had drawn level with virtually the last kick of the game when former Fox Ben Chilwell got forward and caused chaos in the Cheslea box.
Caglar Soyuncu could do little but block the ball which then ricocheted back at Wes Morgan and into the empty net. Chelsea’s fans went wild with delight and relief as the Leicester players and bench looked on in disbelief. So close yet so far. Or so it seemed.
VAR was called upon though and Leicester’s pain quickly turned to delight as Chilwell was adjudged to have strayed offside and the Cup at long last was heading to the King Power stadium.
Leicester City Fairytale Reminds Football That Competition Matters
Brendan Rodgers has done a sterling job at Leicester and the win in the FA Cup is a timely reminder, should anyone need it, that the perceived ‘big six’ in football have no right to call themsleves such and that competitiveness in football is parmaount to the game and always will be.
Once more Leicster City have struck at the heart of the so called big clubs and shown that good management, good coaching, players who work hard and know their jobs along with strong ownership and backing for managers is what can really make a difference on the pitch.
Leicester City have every right to consider themsleves one of the biggest clubs in English football. The Premier League and FA Cup in five seasons makes that claim as valid if not more so than many of the clubs around them.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
