Summary

  • Leicester beat Southampton in second FA Cup semi-final

  • Iheanacho scores from close range

  • Foxes will face Chelsea in final on 15 May

  • 4,000 spectators present at Wembley

  1. Postpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    Leicester v Chelsea. Both semi-finals were hardly classics but the final certainly has the potential to be one (I will keep saying this until a game ends up being a classic).

    I'll leave you with the highlights from the game and Phil McNulty's match report.

    See you later!

  2. 'We have the chance to create history'published at 21:01 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Leicester City

    Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, speaking to BBC Sport: "It feels amazing. I thought we deserved it, the players worked so hard. Commiserations to Southampton, they are a terrific team.

    "We got the goal which was a great piece of play by Jamie. We had two or three moments after that to close it out. When you are 1-0 up you have to show that self control and stay calm and we did that.

    "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.

    On Kelechi Iheanacho: "His confidence levels are very high. Some of his set up play and build up play was a bit loose today but his confidence was not affected by that. Him and Jamie are a real threat but it is very much a team effort.

    "Even thought there were only 4,000 it felt great. It will be amazing when we get supporters back into stadiums. I did hear some Leicester supporters in there and it was really nice.

    "We have the chance to create history. That is what this game is about, creating a memory. I have been made aware since I've been at Leicester how important this cup is for the supporters.

    "When we arrived here that was the ambition. We said we wanted to be competitive. From a football perspective we wanted to be able to compete and we have been able to do that. Now we have a trophy to genuinely go for. When you fail it is an integral part of being successful. We missed out last year, so a great credit to the players this time."

  3. 'We deserved it'published at 20:56 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Leicester City

    Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers speaking to BT Sport: "Amazing, the club has waited a long time to get to a final and it’s a trophy desired by the supporters. We deserved it today, we defended strong, Southampton can score great goals and have players that can hurt you but we conceded no efforts on goal and we looked bright in our attack and should’ve had more than one goal. Pleased for everyone, the players and the club and fans - it’s a massive achievement.

    "It's always a tight game, a semi-final. There weren't many chances yesterday either, the players' concentration was very good. We could’ve been better with the ball at times, we were a bit loose at times but Southampton press you well. As the game went on our patterns were better and we got into some good areas."

    On Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho: "The two of them are a real threat, Jamie [Vardy] is disappointed he didn’t score in the first half but he’s a threat, his clever play for the goal, his movement in behind. He may not have scored but he gives us so much thrust at the top.

    "He's [Iheanacho] a great guy works so hard he always feels he can score, his build up play could be improved at times but the front two really pressed and that set the team up to defend well."

    On reaching the FA Cup semi-final: "It’s something that I was well aware of round here I know it’s a competition that means a lot to the supporters and we’ve tried to show it that respect. We’re in the final now we’ve got to get back and recover and have a good game on Thursday and the challenge now is to get points on the board in the league.

  4. 'Proud of the effort'published at 20:53 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Southampton

    Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl speaking to BT Sport: "We left everything on the pitch that was possible for us but we had no shots on target - six in total and that was in total in the whole game the only one was their goal. Little bit unlucky how we conceded the goal - we tried to keep them away form our goal we know their quality and we had a lot of work to do to keep pressure on them. We didn't have a lot of chances in the final third, one or two good moments but it wasn't enough.

    "Jamie Vardy is quick we know that but we could defend it better and the second shot on the goal is what killed us today - the guys really invested a lot today we wanted to take the chance we knew that we were the underdog but we did everything so I am proud for the effort.

    "We have a big target gone now but we still have a few games to go and we want to put our heads up quickly because we play Tottenham on Wednesday and we must be ready."

  5. 'We haven't been the worst team'published at 20:45 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Southampton

    Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, speaking to BBC Sport: "We conceded the first goal in the cup. Hard to take because we haven't been the worst team. We tried to put pressure on them. We saw a not very good football game to be honest with both teams a little nervous.

    "Such a goal decides such a game is a pity for us. We had a good run and we wanted to get to the final to give our fans the chance of another final. In the end especially in the final third we didn't have good moments. We couldn't get a shot on goal and this is not enough.

    "We had a few good moments where we stretched them a bit. The final ball and the final punch was not there.

    "We had the chance to get to the final. Try again next year."

  6. Postpublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Kelechi Iheanacho is making a strong case for being my favourite person in football. He just seems incredibly likeable.

    Fifteen goals for him this season, 10 of those coming in his last seven games.

  7. 'The FA Cup loves me and I love the FA Cup'published at 20:37 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Leicester City

    Kelechi IheanachoImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester goal scorer Kelechi Iheanacho speaking to BT Sport: "We did it together, without the team we couldn't do it, it's not a one man show. I'm happy with the way we played together and stayed together at the end and I was at the right place at the right time. We are in the final and we're really happy.

    "The partnership between me and Jamie [Vardy] is outstanding, he's got the pace, he's got everything and he's a great player.

    "I think the FA Cup loves me and I love the FA Cup.

    "I've been unlucky in the past few years but I need to keep working hard to go to the next level now."

    On having more fans at the final: "The final will be amazing - I can't wait for that day but let's get back to training now and start work and focus again."

  8. 'A dream come true'published at 20:35 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Leicester City

    A few delighted Leicester fans shout to Kelechi Iheanacho as he prepares to do his BBC interview. Iheanacho stands to applaud them for a couple of minutes before reflecting on achieving something he has dreamed of since he was a child.

    "It is a dream come true," he says. "Loving it. I am happy. We did it together to get to the final. I watched the FA Cup when I was little and now I get the chance to play in the final. Such a big dream for me.

    "We did it together as a team. I am proud of that. Really happy. We are really happy to have some fans today, it is not easy with everything going on but hopefully the final there will be a lot more.

    "I just want to concentrate and keep working hard. Of course it is amazing when you count the goals but my focus is to keep working hard."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Didn't even put up a fight did we... Super upset now. What gems will Ralph come up with now ? Time to go

    Paul

  10. Postpublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Not a single shot on target for Southampton all game. In an FA Cup semi-final no less.

    Bar a five minute spell after Leicester scored they just didn't turn up.

  11. Postpublished at 20:26 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    FT: Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Karen Carney
    Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Jamie Vardy is on the floor he has given everything - he's looking up at the sky and must be thinking about that journey he's been on and now he's off to an FA Cup final.

    The game wasn't great but I think Leicester wanted it more and people like Vardy picking the ball up, running with it with passion and desire, making those moments count. Leicester probably edged it today - they wanted it a bit more, more organised and had more chances.

  12. Postpublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

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  13. FULL-TIMEpublished at 20:23 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    All over and Leicester win to reach the FA Cup final! Their 52-year wait is over!

    They will face Chelsea on 15 May.

    Fan boardImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 20:23 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    James Ward-Prowse wastes it, straight to the keeper!

  15. Postpublished at 20:22 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Late free kick for Southampton and Fraser Forster is going up!!

  16. Postpublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 18 April 2021

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Karen Carney
    Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Southampton haven't had a shot on goal - there's only really been that one for Leicester for the goal. The margins have been small today and quite a lot of mistakes as well.

  17. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    A comfortable catch for Kasper Schmeichel as a ball into the box deflects off Caglar Soyuncu and into the Leicester keeper's hands.

    Jannik Vestergaard has been chucked up top as an extra striker for Southampton now.

  18. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Into the first of four additional minutes.

    Someone was not happy with Jan Bednarek's challenge on Jamie Vardy just now as he swears, rather loudly.

  19. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Well I suppose they don't, an own goal will do for them, but you know what I mean.

    At the moment, Leicester are comfortably seeing this out.

    Leicester v SouthamptonImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 87 mins

    Leicester 1-0 Southampton

    Southampton had that burst but are looking decidedly leggy now. Have they got it in them for one last moment of magic? They need to do something they haven't all game - get a shot on target.