Key Takeaways
- Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal with a header in the 23rd minute to send Chelsea to the final.
- The Blues will face Manchester City at Wembley on May 16 for the trophy.
- Chelsea secured victory just four days after the departure of head coach Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea have advanced to the FA Cup final after defeating Leeds United 1-0 in Sunday’s semi-final at Wembley Stadium. A crowd of 82,542 watched Enzo Fernandez guide the Blues to victory with a superb header.
The west London club will now compete against Manchester City in the final on May 16. This success arrives only four days after the club parted ways with manager Liam Rosenior following a 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane has given the supporters fresh hope. The Argentine midfielder, who wore the captain’s armband, appeared determined throughout the match. He connected perfectly with a cross from Pedro Neto to break the deadlock after 23 minutes.
This goal ended a worrying run for Chelsea. The team had failed to score during a five-match losing streak in the Premier League that ultimately led to Rosenior’s exit. Interestingly, Rosenior had dropped Fernandez for two games this month after the player spoke about a possible summer transfer.
Both sides created opportunities before the opener. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez produced a brilliant stop with his right foot to deny Brenden Aaronson, who had been played through by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Earlier, Joao Pedro struck the near post after receiving a pass from Fernandez.
Leeds attempted to change their approach after the break by switching to a back four. However, Sanchez made another excellent save to push away a powerful shot from substitute Anton Stach. Chelsea then focused on managing the game.
One moment angered the Leeds supporters. Sanchez went down requesting medical treatment, which allowed McFarlane to give tactical instructions directly to Fernandez. The keeper recovered quickly and continued playing.
The defeat ended Leeds’ seven-match unbeaten run. The Yorkshire club must now concentrate on their fight against relegation, sitting just six points clear of the bottom three. They face Burnley on Friday in a crucial home fixture.
Chelsea also face important league matches as they chase Champions League qualification. However, the team now has the chance to rescue their season with silverware at Wembley next month.