Man City beat Chelsea in the FA Cup Final to retain their dream of three | Football News

Premier League chasers Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 in a tough FA Cup tie at Wembley following their League Cup triumph.

Antoine Semenyo scored one of the FA Cup final goals with a back-and-forth that sealed the deal for Manchester City. 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley.

Semenyo lit up the final at the end of the second half when he made the final touch to stroke Erling Haaland’s ball into the net on Saturday.

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The Ghanaian winger’s moment of magic was enough to seal City’s eighth League Cup triumph, and their second piece of silverware this season after their League Cup final win against Arsenal in March.

Semenyo joins Ricky Villa, Michael Owen, Roberto Di Matteo and Steven Gerrard among FA Cup final goalscorers.

Ironically, the 26-year-old – an inspired signing from Bournemouth in the January transfer window – was born a stone’s throw from Chelsea’s home Stamford Bridge in west London.

A third FA Cup win under Guardiola ended City’s run of two consecutive final defeats against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Guardiola, who lifted the trophy again in 2023 and 2019, has now won 20 trophies in his glittering decade as City manager.

His interest will return to City’s slim hopes of making a miraculous 21 silverware in the Premier League title race.

City, who are on a 21-match unbeaten run, will move five points behind leaders Arsenal if the Gunners beat relegated Burnley at home on Monday.

Guardiola’s men can close that gap to move back to two points with a win at Bournemouth in their final game of the season on Tuesday.

But Arsenal could still secure their first English title since 2004 with a win at Palace on May 24.

Ahead of his 24th visit to Wembley with City, Guardiola joked that he was “very disappointed” not to have his name on the home of English football.

Whether he will return to City remains a matter of speculation.

Guardiola’s future remains uncertain throughout the season and, with one year left on his contract, the 55-year-old Guardiola has yet to say whether he wants to stay or leave at the end of this season.

If time is running out, Semenyo has ensured that Guardiola will leave with one more golden memory.

For Chelsea, the loss was the latest blow in another difficult campaign.

Without a win in their last seven league games, they are currently in ninth place with no chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Led by interim boss Calum McFarlane, they put in a competitive but lackluster display that proved why disgruntled fans protested against the BlueCo owners before kick-off and chanted “we want our Chelsea back”.

With Chelsea content to stay down in their five-man defence, City dominated for much of the first half, but were unable to break through.

It was a cagey season and it was mostly smooth, in keeping with two teams that have not done well this season.

Haaland fired home from the penalty spot after stealing possession on the edge of the Chelsea area.

The Norwegian also threatened to reward Chelsea’s well-drilled defenders at the end of the first half, heading over Marc Guehi with a fierce strike that Robert Sanchez saved from close range.

Relying on the occasional attack, Chelsea suffered an early blow when their lead was denied, with Joao Pedro caught by Abdukodir Khusanov.

Semyonyo should have broken the deadlock just after the break, from six yards out when he rose to meet Nico O’Reilly’s cross.

Moises Caicedo’s header was cleared off the line by Rodri after City’s James Trafford had taken a corner.

But City finally conceded in the 72nd minute.

Haaland raced down the right-hand side of the Chelsea area and cut the ball to Semenyo, who deftly drove his top-heel into the far corner from close range.