Antoine Semenyo became the hero at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, scoring the decisive goal in the 70th minute to give Manchester City a dramatic 1-0 victory over Chelsea FC in the 2026 FA Cup Final. The win marks City’s eighth FA Cup title and their third under manager Pep Guardiola.
The tightly contested final saw both teams create significant chances throughout the match. Manchester City initially dominated possession, with Omar Marmoush having an early opportunity in the seventh minute, though his effort lacked the necessary power to trouble Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea gradually found their footing, posing a threat on the counterattack, leveraging the pace of João Pedro. The London club enjoyed a promising spell before halftime, arguably finishing the first period stronger.
Following the interval, Manchester City increased their intensity. Semenyo had a headed opportunity from a cross, but his effort sailed over the crossbar. Chelsea responded with a significant chance of their own, but Rodri’s crucial goal-line clearance denied Moisés Caicedo from close range, preventing Chelsea from taking the lead.
With the match seemingly heading towards extra time, Manchester City found the crucial breakthrough. Erling Haaland made a driving run down the right flank and delivered a sharp low ball into the penalty area. Semenyo, reacting instinctively from a difficult angle, managed to flick the ball past Sánchez, igniting jubilant celebrations among the Manchester City faithful.
Chelsea mounted a late surge in search of an equalizer, but Manchester City’s defense held firm, successfully defending their lead to secure the coveted trophy. This triumph extends Manchester City’s record for the longest span between their first FA Cup success in 1904 and their most recent, a period of 122 years.
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