Leicester City reached the FA Cup ultimate for the primary time in additional than 50 years as Kelechi Iheanacho’s objective secured a 1-0 win over Southampton at Wembley on Sunday.
A disappointing sport was settled 10 minutes after the interval because the in-form Nigerian striker slotted on the second try after good work by Jamie Vardy.
Leicester, who’ve by no means received the FA Cup and final appeared within the ultimate in 1969, will face Chelsea on May 15.
A crowd of round 4,000, primarily native residents and key employees, have been allowed to attend the semi-final as a part of a check occasion for the return of crowds as COVID-19 restrictions ease.There was treasured little for them to get enthusiastic about in a uninteresting first half, however the second interval was marginally higher.
It was no shock that Iheanacho scored the winner as he has now netted 10 instances in his final seven video games.
Southampton, who had not conceded a objective in reaching the semi-finals, not often threatened and did not power a save out of Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Iheanacho was already the highest-scoring African participant within the FA Cup, having overtaken Chelsea’s Didier Drogba (12) by scoring within the 3-1 defeat of Manchester United within the quarter-final.His 14th within the competitors was all concerning the tenaciousness of Vardy, and a bit little bit of luck.
Vardy turned effectively on the left flank and powered ahead earlier than reducing a move again in the direction of Iheanacho who had cleverly discovered some house within the space.His first effort, which was going vast, was blocked however the ball got here again to him and he side-footed previous Fraser Forster.
“It’s amazing for the club who have waited a long time to get to an FA Cup final,” supervisor Brendan Rodgers stated. “We deserved it in the present day, we defended very sturdy.
“Tight game with so much at stake. You work so hard and it is an opportunity to create history for your club. Concentration was good, defended well when we had to.”
Vardy wasted Leicester’s solely actual likelihood earlier than the break after being performed in by Youri Tielemans.
After Iheanacho’s objective, Leicester seemed comfy with substitute James Maddision failing to hit the goal with a few good possibilities.The closest Southampton got here to an equaliser was an Ibrahima Diallo effort narrowly off track however it was a timid show by the south coast aspect.
“We left everything on the pitch that was possible for us but we had no shots on target,” Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuettl stated. “We didn’t have loads of possibilities within the ultimate third, one or two good moments however it wasn’t sufficient.
“We saw a not very good football game to be honest with both teams a little nervous.”
