Leicester City face Chelsea in the 2021 FA Cup final after the Kelechi Iheanacho strike in the second half gave them a 1-0 victory over Southampton.
The first half of the semi-final was a boring affair with Southampton not registering a single shot on goal. Jamie Vardy came close to scoring with a failed lob, while Wilfred Ndidi hit a header against the crossbar.
? Super Kelechi Iheanacho? #EmiratesFACup @LCFC pic.twitter.com/3j0nn9ZyCg
– Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 18, 2021
After the break, Leicester took the lead when Iheanacho converted Vardy’s cross in the second attempt. The Foxes then survived a minor fear when Ibrahima Diallo’s shot flew right at, while James Maddison rejected a good chance to solve it after coming in as a replacement.
In the end, though, Leicester kept it pretty simple. They are now looking forward to their meeting with Thomas Tuchel’s side on 15 May.
Here are your player ratings for both teams from Wembley Stadium …
Schmeichel was still throughout | Pool / Getty Images
Kasper Schmeichel (GK) – 6/10 – Handled Southampton minimal pressure during the second half and claimed some high balls in the box.
Wesley Fofana (CB) – 8/10 – Won the overwhelming majority of his duels in the air and on the ground. He was good looking at the ball too. No wonder Manchester United want him.
Caglar Soyuncu (CB) – 6/10 – Did not test too much when he returned to the three rear. He made some rash decisions, including body checks of Ings that could have gotten him rejected.
Jonny Evans (CB) – 7/10 – Composed. He collected the back line brilliantly, especially during the second half when the pressure was on.
Perez was restored to the team | Pool / Getty Images
Timothy Castagne (RWB) – 7/10 – A calm evening ahead but he was spotless defensively and completed four tackles.
Youri Tielemans (CM) – 7/10 – Nice all the time. He excelled in most areas rarely giving away the ball and pulling the strings from the depths.
Wilfred Ndidi (CM) – 7/10 – A real danger from solid pieces with one of his nods in the crossbar. Makes it difficult for Southampton in the middle.
Ricardo Pereira (LWB) – 6/10 – Huffed and breathed on his weaker side for an hour. Still looks the best.
Ayoze Perez (AM) – 6/10 – He kept his discipline in check and pressed well, but did not do much on the ball.
Iheanacho is the highest scoring African in FA Cup history Pool / Getty Images
Kelechi Iheanacho (ST) – 8/10 – Showed intelligent movement to be free of his goal. He deserved the luck he got afterwards. Also lost deeply to bring out the chances for his teammates.
Jamie Vardy (ST) – 7/10 – Missed a good chance during the first half but compensated by creating Iheancho’s opener. Looked sharp and held the Saints back on his toes.
Maddison missed a decent chance Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Marc Albrighton – 6/10 – Always a reliable artist.
James Maddison – 6/10 – Missed a great chance that would have solved the game. Always be busy.
Forster could not stand Iheanacho’s strike | Pool / Getty Images
Fraser Forster (GK) – 6/10 – Little he could do about Iheanacho’s goal. Went well.
Kyle Walker-Peters (RB) – 5/10 – Did not dare forward enough. Defended well, however, and deprived Pereira of all joy.
Jan Bednarek (CB) – 6/10 – Read the game well and register six interceptions. Vardy caused him some problems, most unbelievably for the opener.
Jannik Vestergaard (CB) – 6/10 – Good. His passing was not without fault but his dominance in the air was impressive.
Ryan Bertrand (LB) – 4/10 – Iheanacho lost to the opener and failed to prevent him from scoring. Offered nothing in the future.
Djenepo will feel that he could have done more | Pool / Getty Images
Stuart Armstrong (RM) – 5/10 – His side advanced on the pitch. The last ball was not good.
James Ward-Prowse (CM) – 6/10 – At the center of everything his side created, which was not so much to be fair. Be warlike in the middle too.
Ibrahima Diallo (CM) – 5/10 – Picked up an unnecessary yellow card during the first five minutes. His decision making was bad all the time.
Moussa Djenepo (LM) – 4/10 – Not involved anywhere close enough. When he got opportunities, he jerked at it.
Redmond had an uneventful evening NEIL HALL / Getty Images
Nathan Redmond (ST) – 4/10 – Pretty bad. Only had 15 touches of the ball in one hour.
Danny Ings (ST) – 5/10 – Full starvation of service during the first half. More involved as things progressed but his teammates did not use their talents.
Che Adams – 6/10 – Lighted the saints up. Maybe it should have started.
Theo Walcott – 5/10 – Could not get into the game.
Nathan Tella – Not applicable
Mohammed Salisu – N / A
