Football May 26, 2026

Chelsea 0-1 Man City: Antoine Semenyo's brilliant flick seals FA Cup win and completes domestic cup double

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Chelsea 0-1 Man City: Antoine Semenyo's brilliant flick seals FA Cup win and completes domestic cup double

Antoine Semenyo's sublime flick took Man City to a 1-0 FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea at Wembley.

The winger has been a revelation since joining in January for £64m from Bournemouth and his 10th goal in City colours was a special one on the big stage. Erling Haaland crossed low into the box and Semenyo, holding off Levi Colwill, glanced the ball inside the far corner with a clip of his right heel.

City had been in need of some inspiration to open up a dogged Chelsea defence and Semenyo provided it. After losing back-to-back FA Cup finals, they are champions again, completing a double of the domestic cups after their Carabao Cup success in March. That's 20 major trophies for Pep Guardiola now at City. How many more will there be?

Chelsea had earlier seen a goal-bound Moises Caicedo header cleared away by Rodri and Enzo Fernandez flicked onto the roof of the net as they sought an equaliser. They also had a series of penalty shouts, with Abdoukodir Khusanov's shove on Jorrel Hato picked out by interim boss Calum McFarlane as the one they should have been awarded.

But this was a fifth-straight Wembley final without a goal for Chelsea. Former City academy star Cole Palmer spent much of the game working back to stop Jeremy Doku and was unable to provide the spark at the other end.

As well as missing out on the trophy, Chelsea also miss out on a Europa League place which would have come with it - a prize they look unlikely to achieve with a top-seven finish in the Premier League. Overhauling a two-point gap on Brentford for eighth and the Conference League remains their only objective in their final two games of a frustrating season.

Ultimately, this was a task too big for Chelsea and interim boss Calum McFarlane. City finished strongly, with a Matheus Nunes shot pushed onto the post by Robert Sanchez and a Rayan Cherki blast well stopped by the keeper. They have delivered at the business end of this season, too.

An Arsenal slip-up is required to add an unlikely Premier League title to this season's trophy collection but City enjoyed these celebrations. Guardiola - who joked pre-match about having a stand named after him at Wembley - has delivered again. He has one year left on his City contract but looked determined to take in the celebrations on the famous field.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola:

"I had the feeling last season against Crystal Palace and two seasons ago against Manchester United we were better than today, in terms of it was more clear what we had to do. But these type of games, like last season, the margins are so minor. Maybe they are penalties [for Chelsea]. Last season [should have been] a red card [for Dean] Henderson.

"This trophy is really, really cool! Really special for the tradition. And after our two defeats, to take it back to Manchester is nice."

Man City's Bernardo Silva to BBC Sport:

"It's special. I am really happy. Everything about my journey here at Man City was fantastic. Hopefully we can still have a small dream that we can fight for the Premier League.

"Today we are very happy. It is just special for me, being my last season to give them another trophy. Hopefully, not the last one.

"Since I arrived it has been 20 [trophies], so it is not bad. That was a fantastic goal. In a final there are no favourites. At the beginning of the second half, they started really strong. They were putting us under constant pressure and it wasn't easy."

Interim Chelsea boss Calum McFarlane:

"I thought it was evenly matched game. Both teams had momentum at different times. Two really good sides.

"Congratulations to Man City. Disappointing result.

"In terms of the penalty incidents, the Hato and Khusanov collision is a penalty. Jorrel gets in front and anywhere else on the pitch, that's a foul."

Chelsea now face Tottenham at home on Tuesday in an 8.15pm kick-off before completing their Premier League campaign at Sunderland on the final day, Sunday, May 24 at 4pm.

Man City are also in action on Tuesday, going to Bournemouth for a 7.30pm kick-off before concluding their season at home to Aston Villa on May 24, also in a 4pm kick-off.

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