Chelsea vs Leicester FA Cup Final: FINAL SCORE 0-1
This is the start of our FA Cup final live blog. We’ll have the most recent entries nearest the top, with preview content coming up before the match and then minute-by-minute updates once the game kicks off. It should be a great one, so let’s enjoy it!
Full time: LEICESTER ARE FA CUP WINNERS!!!
Leicester City have done it! The Foxes have won the FA Cup for the first time in their history. They do it thanks to a super goal from Youri Tielemans, two impressive saves from Kasper Schmeichel and the fact that VAR ruled out a late Chelsea would-be equaliser for offside. They hold on to win 1-0 and the fans in the Leicester end of Wembley go wild. That’s all from this live blog, but you can read our match report from this final right here.
Minute 89: Chelsea score… but it’s offside!
Wow, just wow. Ben Chilwell creates havoc in the penalty box of his former club, leading to a Wes Morgan own goal. But… it’s ruled out. Chilwell was offside when he collected the ball and, despite his impressive celebration, it doesn’t count. It’s still 1-0 to the Foxes.
Minute 87: Another big save from Schmeichel!
Ten minutes after making one big stop, Kasper Schmeichel makes another. This time Havertz tees up Mason Mount and his fierce shot is swatted away by the giant goalkeeper. That could be huge.
Minute 84: Vardy, wow!
Even though Chelsea are pressing and probing, Leicester remain dangerous on the counter attack as they have Jamie Vardy leading the line. The striker bursts into the area and goes down as Silva put the ball out for a corner, but Vardy acrobatically bounces straight back up and urgers the Leicester fans to keep cheering. He has the energy that the Chelsea players don’t.
Minute 78: Off the post!
Chelsea come so close to equalising. Kante gets the ball towards Chilwell and he heads down low, but Schmeichel manages to reach it. It seems it’s a mix of the goalkeeper and the post that nudge the ball to safety. That’s the closest Chelsea have come by far.
Minute 74: Chelsea go for it
Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic are brought on as Thomas Tuchel makes some moves, before Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz are shortly introduced as well. Having been unable to create much in the aftermath of Leicester‘s goal, Chelsea are now throwing everything at the Foxes.
Minute 63: TIELEMANS FIRES LEICESTER AHEAD!!! 1-0!!!
Wow, what a goal! We haven’t had much to shout about in attack so far in this FA Cup final, but this was worth the wait. Youri Tielemans finds a pocket of space, drives forward and sets himself and then… he blasts it past Kepa. It’s a special goal and Leicester lead 1-0.
Minute 56: Tow corners in a row for Leicester
Leicester really haven’t created much so far, so set pieces could become key in this final. They win a couple of corners in a row and the Leicester fans who have made the trip to Wembley get excited. But, above a hum of anticipation, the two corners come to nothing.
Minute 53: We have our first shot on target!
Finally, we’ve had a shot on target in this FA Cup final. It comes from Marcos Alonso, as he directs a header towards Schmeichel from the far side of the Leicester penalty area after a Kante cross. It’s simple for the Foxes’ goalkeeper, but at least we’ve had a shot on target now.
Minute 50: Kepa races out to clear some danger
Leicester, when they do get the ball, are able to get it forward so quickly. That happens here as the ball is rapidly played in the direction of Jamie Vardy, but Kepa rushes out of his area to clear the ball and the danger.
Minute 46: We go again with no changes
There are no half time changes, so here we go again with the same 22 players who finished the first half. Remember, Marc Albrighton replaced Jonny Evans midway through the first half.
Half time: Chelsea dominate, but they can’t score
The first half is finished and Chelsea were clearly the better side, however they couldn’t find a breakthrough. They didn’t even create any clear-cut chance, with the first half finishing without a single shot on target. Let’s see if that changes in the second 45 minutes. Somebody has to win this game somehow!
Minute 42: Werner is looking lively
Timo Werner is finishing the half well, looking lively. He sends in a couple of dangerous low balls from wide and then gets off a shot from distance than Kasper Schmeichel leaves and that only just goes wide. It remains goalless.
Minute 34: Evans is subbed off
Jonny Evans can’t continue. His injury issues are too great and the defender comes off for Marc Albrighton. It’s the first substitution of this final and Evans is applauded off.
Minute 29: So close from Chelsea
Chelsea go down their right once again and manage to work the ball to the other side of a crowded box. Werner and Azpilicueta wait for a cross at the far post, but it doesn’t arrive for them to head in and Leicester are off the hook.
Minute 24: Mount comes close as the rain falls
The rain is really falling now in London and the game is speeding up a little. Mason Mount drifts in from the right and gets off a shot, that deflects out for a corner which ultimately comes to nothing.
Minute 20: A chance for Leicester!
Leicester haven’t ventured forward much, but they are gifted a freekick by a Thiago Silva handball. Tielemans hits the ball into the box, towards Soyuncu, but his header flashes over the Chelsea crossbar.
Minute 15: The first shot of the final… goes well wide
Despite Chelsea‘s early dominance, they haven’t created many actual shooting opportunities. Antonio Rudiger gets far enough forward to try his luck from distance, but his effort trickles well wide. It’s still goalless at Wembley.
Minute 8: It’s all Chelsea so far
It has been all Chelsea so far, putting crosses and corners into the Leicester area. The Foxes aren’t looking especially convincing as they clear the danger, but so far Kasper Schmeichel hasn’t been troubled.
Minute 2: Two early bursts forward from Chelsea
Chelsea start the match better, getting forward down their right a couple of times already and putting balls into the box. Leicester deal with the danger, but will hope to plug that hole quickly.
Minute 1: Kick off!
Here we go then! Chelsea are looking for their first FA Cup since 2018. Leicester City, meanwhile, are seeking their first ever triumph in this trophy. It’s Chelsea in blue and Leicester in a marron colour. Here we go!
18:10 CEST: The teams are out on the pitch
Both Chelsea and Leicester City have taken to the Wembley pitch, with the pre-match ceremonies now being fulfilled. Prince William greets the players, before a rendition of ‘God Save The Queen’. Then, it’ll be time for kick off.
