5 memorable moments from Leicester’s FA Cup final victory
By Nathan Wong
3. A stick of dynamite from the starman
Youri Tielemans take a bow. Everyone knew he had the ability in his right foot, but such quality had been sorely missing from his many previous attempts. Until today. As the ‘Starman’ picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, there was only one thing in his mind as he fired a howitzer into Kepa’s top corner.
To find the target, let alone beat the keeper from this distance was simply wondrous and the sheer quality of the strike alone was worthy of victory. As the ball hit the back of the net, Gary Lineker and 6,000 delirious fans were on their feet, with limbs flailing wildly everywhere. What a way to announce the return of football with fans.
Apart from the goal Tielemans displayed the other side of his game, with industrious tackles and astute passes, demonstrating his all-round class.
Angry Chelsea fans will point to the ball rebounding off Peréz’s knee onto his arm beforehand, but this was irrelevant as the Spaniard did not directly create the goal itself with his interception. Such technicalities understandably anger supporters of the Pensioners but are irrelevant for Leicester City.
4. The Great Dane delivers
Whilst Tielemans’ screamer will grab all the headlines, the quality of Kasper Schmeichel was as, if not more crucial to the Foxes victory. The first save, ironically from Ben Chilwell, required marvellous dexterity to turn the ball onto the post. Yet, unwilling to be satisfied with this, the Great Dane produced an even better stop just 10 minutes after the first.
Mason Mount’s powerful shot seemed destined to be nestling in the bottom corner, only to be met with an inexorably strong hand from Leicester’s number one.
The quality of the save was shown by the look of astonishment on Mount’s face and had Leicester fans everywhere on their feet in admiration, with chants of “Schmeichel, Schmeichel” reverberating around Wembley.
At key times throughout his Leicester career, Schmeichel has delivered where it matters, and such stops merely add to his growing catalogue of match-winning moments.