Manchester City lifted the FA Cup in the final on Saturday with a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea, courtesy of a 72nd-minute winner from Antoine Semeny. The win completed a domestic cup double for Pep Guardiola’s side as they continue to challenge for the Premier League title.
The final was fought for a long time before Semenyo created the decisive momenthe turned and kicked Erling Haaland’s cross past Chelsea goalkeeper Roberto Sanchez. The goal shifted the tempo of the match and opened a tense final twenty minutes, where both sides created chances.
City almost doubled their advantage when Rayan Cherki forced a sharp save from Sanchez, while Matheus Nunes hit the post as Chelsea pushed for an equaliser.
City captain Bernardo Silva described the victory as a fitting way to potentially close a special chapter in his career, while acknowledging the team’s continued league ambitions. “It’s very special, it’s really nice to finish in this way and maybe we can still have a little dream that we can still fight for the Premier League,” said Silva.
He also reflected on the intensity of the match after Chelsea applied sustained pressure after half-time. “It was really difficult for us at the start of the second half and they put us under a lot of pressure and made it very difficult for us,” he added.
HOME HEIGHTS ON THE HORIZON?
The win marks Manchester City’s eighth FA Cup triumph and adds to their success in the League Cup earlier in the season, further underlining their continued dominance of English domestic football under Guardiola. However, Chelsea’s struggles in the finals continue, extending their run of seven consecutive domestic cup final defeats.
Meanwhile, City remain firmly in contention for the Premier League title, they sit just two points behind leaders Arsenal with two games remaining. Their final league games include a tough trip against European qualifiers chasing AFC Bournemouth, followed by an in-form Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season.
Buoyed by their FA Cup triumph, Guardiola’s side will now look to carry their winning form into the crucial final stretch of the campaign as they chase another potential league title.
For Chelsea, the loss caps a turbulent season marked by managerial instability and inconsistent league form. Despite opportunities, the likes of Enzo Fernndez, Joo Pedro and Liam Delap failed to find a breakthrough against a disciplined City defence.
The defeat also raises further questions about Chelsea’s direction in its current set-up as the club’s American ownership group continues to search for long-term managerial stability after several changes in recent months.
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Published on:
May 17, 2026 0:29 AM IST
