News Focus
- Antoine Semenyo scores the only goal in the 72nd minute to win the FA Cup for Manchester City
- The 1-0 victory completes a domestic cup double for City following their Carabao Cup triumph against Arsenal
- Chelsea suffer a record fourth consecutive FA Cup final defeat and finish the season without any trophies
- Chelsea sack manager Liam Rosenior after the final loss and plan to appoint Xabi Alonso as his replacement
- Manchester City remain two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race with two games left to play
Antoine Semenyo produced a moment of individual brilliance to settle a poor-quality FA Cup final as Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The Ghanaian forward joined Manchester City from Bournemouth in January for £65 million and has settled in immediately without showing any signs of pressure.
The match itself was largely forgettable until the 72nd minute when Semenyo broke the deadlock. Erling Haaland, who had worked hard throughout with little support, delivered a cross from the right wing. Semenyo met the ball on the run and flicked it perfectly with his right foot across Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez into the net.
This single moment of quality was enough to give Manchester City their third FA Cup win under Pep Guardiola. The victory also completed a domestic cup double for the club, adding to the Carabao Cup they won against Arsenal earlier in the season. It also ended a run of successive final defeats against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
For Chelsea, the defeat marked a record fourth straight FA Cup final loss and confirmed a disappointing season without silverware. The London club must now focus on securing their Premier League survival, starting with a crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Following the final whistle, Chelsea announced the sacking of manager Liam Rosenior. The club is now accelerating efforts to appoint former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso as the new head coach to bring fresh hope to the squad.
Manchester City’s display showed a different side to their character. Unlike their usual flowing, attacking football, this was a victory built on hard work and determination. Guardiola’s low-key celebration suggested he knew this was a day of graft rather than artistic football.
The inspiration came entirely from Semenyo, who faces his former club Bournemouth in City’s next league match as they chase Arsenal for the Premier League title.