Manchester City completed a domestic cup double on Saturday after defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley, with Antoine Semenyo producing the match-winning moment in the second half.
The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute when Semenyo met a low cross from Erling Haaland and cleverly flicked the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with a back-heel finish.
Before the goal, the final had been a tense and tightly contested affair, but the tempo increased dramatically in the closing stages as both sides chased opportunities. Rayan Cherki forced Sanchez into action with a fierce strike, while Matheus Nunes came close to doubling City’s lead after hitting the post.
City skipper Bernardo Silva, who is widely expected to depart the club at the end of the season, admitted the victory carried special meaning.
“It’s very special,” Silva said after the match. “To finish this way in my final season and give the fans another trophy means a lot. We still believe we can keep fighting for the Premier League.”
The success handed manager Pep Guardiola his second domestic title of the campaign after City previously lifted the League Cup in March. The reigning champions are still chasing the Premier League crown and sit two points behind leaders Arsenal with two games remaining.
For Chelsea, the defeat marked a seventh consecutive loss in a domestic cup final. Chances created by Enzo Fernandez, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap failed to produce an equaliser as the Blues ended the contest empty-handed.
The latest setback deepened frustration over an underwhelming season for Chelsea, whose hopes of securing European football next term continue to fade. Off the pitch, the club’s owners, BlueCo, remain in search of a permanent manager after the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, with interim boss Calum McFarlane currently overseeing the team.
