Manchester City players pose with the winner’s trophy after the English FA Cup final match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo)
Manchester City FC beat Chelsea FC 1-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday, with Antoine Semenyo scoring the only goal of the game. The final produced several chances before Semenyo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. He met Erling Haaland’s cross and the forward used a back-heel flick to send the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Roberto Sánchez into the far corner. The win kept Manchester City in contention for a domestic treble after winning the English League Cup this season. Pep Guardiola’s side are also second in the Premier League table, two points behind Arsenal FC, with two rounds remaining. It was Guardiola’s 17th major trophy in 10 years at Manchester City and the 35th of his managerial career. Manchester City won the FA Cup for the eighth time, moving level with Chelsea, Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC on the all-time winners list. Defeat for Chelsea means the club will end the season without a trophy, a year after winning the Club World Cup. The campaign was marked by instability, the club changed two coaches since the beginning of the year. Chelsea were managed by Calum McFarlane, a former youth coach who was in charge of just his seventh first-team game. Before kick-off, Chelsea supporters protested against the club’s American owners outside Wembley Stadium. Despite the circumstances, Chelsea managed to frustrate Manchester City for most of the game before Semenyo’s winner. The Ghana striker joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January and has now scored 10 goals for the club and helped them win two trophies. After the match, Manchester City fans sang “Blue Moon” as Bernardo Silva and John Stones lifted the trophy. Both players are set to leave the club at the end of the season. “It’s been 20 trophies since I arrived, which is not bad. I care a lot about Manchester City,” said Bernardo, counting the Community Shield victory. Manchester City had lost the previous two FA Cup finals before this victory. It was also the fourth consecutive year they reached the final, having last won the competition in 2023. Arsenal remain the most successful club in FA Cup history with 14 titles, while Manchester United FC are second with 13.
