Antoine Semenyo’s second-half flick decided the FA Cup final as Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley. The decisive moment arrived in the 72nd minute, when an excellent cross found Semenyo and he produced an audacious finish to settle a tense and largely tight final.
The win gave City the FA Cup alongside their Carabao Cup success, completing a domestic cup double. It also marked Pep Guardiola’s 20th trophy in England, adding another major honour to his time at the club. Bernardo Silva and John Stones lifted the trophy at full-time after a match that had remained close until Semenyo’s intervention.
Semenyo makes the difference
Semenyo’s goal was the clearest sign of quality in a final that had not produced many clear openings. BBC Sport described it as a sensational winning goal and a fairytale moment, while ESPN called his backheel decisive in a match City edged 1-0.
The January signing from Bournemouth has made an immediate impression since arriving at City, and this was the latest example of that impact. BBC Sport noted that the 26-year-old had joined from Bournemouth in January, while Sky Sports highlighted his brilliant second-half flick as the move that broke the deadlock.
Guardiola later said Semenyo had been told to “create chaos”, and the forward explained that the finish came from something that had happened in training before. The goal was also described as his 72nd-minute strike, and it was enough to win the trophy for City.
Chelsea stay competitive
Chelsea made City work for the victory and were not without chances. ESPN said the team produced their best performance in months and went close through Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Sky Sports also noted that Chelsea lined up in a back five and were stubborn without finding the breakthrough they needed.
Levi Colwill was highlighted by Sky Sports as Chelsea’s best player, with his distribution helping them move up the pitch. Even so, City’s defensive work and the quality of their decisive attack proved enough to deny Chelsea a fifth consecutive Wembley final without a goal turning into a different result.
Another major day for City
The victory added to a strong season for City in cup competition. BBC Sport said the result confirmed a cup double, while ESPN pointed out that Guardiola’s side now have 20 titles in 10 years under his management. The trophy lift came after a final in which City did enough when it mattered most.
For Semenyo, the match will be remembered for a single touch that settled a major final. For City, it was another Wembley success and another trophy for a team that found the moment of quality when the game needed it most.
Manchester City’s triumph also brought an end to Chelsea’s hopes of lifting the cup after a hard-fought contest. In a final short on clear chances, Semenyo’s finish made the difference and sent City away with the silverware.
