Published on : 18/04/2021 – 21:48Modified : 18/04/2021 – 21:46
–
Wembley (United Kingdom) (AFP)
Leicester City qualified for the FA Cup final and won the right to face Chelsea, beating Southampton (1-0) on Sunday after a closed match, with a – limited – return from public, at Wembley.
This test event of the public’s return to the stadium, a first in England since December, was carried out with a tonnage of 4,000 spectators. But the players, them, did not seem more inspired than that to ensure the spectacle, the match having taken time to settle.
Kelechi Iheanacho, the man in shape of the moment, unblocked the meeting by taking a center back from Jamy Vardy. With a little success because his instant strike – not on target – was pushed back to his feet by the defense of the desperate Saints. All he had to do then was push the ball to the back of the net (55th).
Short but logical success as the Foxes were the most enterprising in this second semi-final, the first act of which was marked by a level of play close to nothing.
The first thinning of the match came shortly after half an hour of play: on a high recovery, Youri Tielemans threw Jamy Vardy behind the Saints’ defense. After a dazzling acceleration, the English striker, a little embarrassed by Walker-Peters, narrowly missed the frame (33rd). Then a resumption of the head of Wilfried Ndidi touched the bar of Fraser Forster who was beaten (41st).
Led to the score, the Saints hitherto wait-and-see tried to react by Ibrahima Diallo, whose almost perfect volley flirted with the stoppage of the goal of Schemeichel (62nd).
Brendan Rodgers’ men will face Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, winner the day before Manchester City (1-0), on May 15 at Wembley.
© 2021 AFP
–
