Chelsea edge Leeds to reach FA Cup Final, set up Man. City showdown

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup final on Sunday after grinding out a narrow 1-0 victory over Leeds United in a tense semi-final clash at Wembley Stadium.

A first-half header from Enzo Fernández proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter, as Chelsea held firm under sustained pressure to secure passage to the final, where they will face Manchester City.

Fernández struck in the 23rd minute, rising to meet a precise cross from Pedro Neto and directing his effort into the bottom corner to give Chelsea the lead.

Despite falling behind, Leeds responded with urgency, creating several chances but failing to find a breakthrough.

Robert Sánchez was instrumental for Chelsea, producing key saves, including a crucial stop to deny Brenden Aaronson in the first half.

The second half saw Leeds dominate possession and push aggressively for an equaliser, with chances falling to players including Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach, but Chelsea’s defensive resilience ensured their slender advantage remained intact.

The contest grew increasingly physical as the clock ticked down, with multiple bookings issued amid rising tension, while eight minutes of stoppage time added further drama.

Chelsea, however, managed the closing stages effectively, repelling Leeds’ late advances to seal a hard-fought victory in front of a crowd of over 82,000 spectators.

The result sends Chelsea into a high-stakes final against Manchester City, setting up a blockbuster showdown as both sides chase domestic silverware.