Semenyo fires Man. City past Chelsea to lift FA Cup

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Manchester City claimed the 2026 FA Cup title after edging Chelsea 1-0 in a tense final at Wembley Stadium, courtesy of a second-half strike from Antoine Semenyo.

In a fiercely contested encounter watched by 83,337 spectators, Pep Guardiola’s side held their nerve to secure another major domestic trophy after a hard-fought battle against an energetic Chelsea team.

Manchester City dominated possession for long spells in the opening half and nearly broke the deadlock through Erling Haaland, whose powerful effort was brilliantly saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Haaland also had a goal ruled out for offside as City continued to pile pressure on the Blues.

Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the early stages but gradually grew into the game through the influence of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 72nd minute when Semenyo latched onto the ball inside the penalty area and produced an audacious back-heel finish that slipped past Sanchez to hand City the decisive advantage.

The goal sparked an intense response from Chelsea, who pushed aggressively for an equaliser in the closing stages.

Pedro Neto came close with a fierce strike that forced an outstanding save from James Trafford, while Enzo Fernandez and Liam Delap both missed late chances as City’s defence stood firm under pressure.

Chelsea also saw two penalty appeals waved away by referee Darren England during the second half, further increasing frustration among the London club’s players and supporters.

City nearly doubled their lead late on when Matheus Nunes struck the post after bursting into the penalty area, but Guardiola’s men ultimately needed only Semenyo’s moment of brilliance to seal victory.

The triumph marks another significant achievement for Guardiola, whose side once again demonstrated their experience and composure on the biggest domestic stage.