Chelsea left empty-handed as superior Man City claim second domestic cup of the season

Blue afternoon at Wembley : Picture by @YTJourno

FA Cup Final

Chelsea (0) 0

Manchester City (0) 1 Semenyo 72

A brilliant backheel from Antoine Semenyo - gliding in front of Levi Colwill to reach an Erling Haaland cross - was enough to condemn Chelsea to a fourth defeat in their last four FA Cup finals.

It was a goal worthy of settling such a grand occasion and barely reflected the Mancunians' superiority for most of the contest.

The Blues did have a few good moments but overall struggled to impose themselves and their winless run against Pep Guardiola's men now extends to 14 games in all competitions since that 2021 Champions League final in Porto.

In what has been a basket case of a season for the Blues, it was perhaps expecting too much of them to cast months of chaos aside and land the trophy for a ninth time, but they have a habit of turning up on the big occasions and at least made City work for it.

But it means both domestic cups are City's - with the league title and a treble still a possibility - while Stamford Bridge's hopes of adding more silverware to last summer's Euro and World trophy successes under Enzo Maresca have faded away.

Managerless since the axing of Liam Rosenior, they could have few complaints about it not all ending in glory. A big summer rethink is needed for them. The many fans who sloped away before the final whistle will have been thinking just that.

Chelsea sat back at the start, waited and hoped. A sign of where they might have joy came when a first time pass from Enzo Fernandez released Joao Pedro for a run into the danger zone. The striker worked himself into space but lost his footing. It was a foretaste of how the afternoon would unfold for the Blues - too little going their way.

Having lost 3-0 to City at the Bridge not so long ago, the Blues were understandably wary of the damage their opponents could dish out. Their respectful approach was no surprise.

City were enjoying their attempt to inflict a death by a thousand cuts but only had a Semenyo cross flashing across the six-yard box to show for their monopoly of the ball until they effected a turnover high up the pitch and Erling Haaland's shot whistled past the far post.

Haaland had the ball in the net from Matheus Nunes' low cross but the provider was well offside. The Norwegian, who was looking for a first goal or assist in 16 semi-finals and finals for City, also tested out Robert Sanchez from an angle after being found by Marc Guehi - the man who won the cup last year with the Eagles and was about to make it two gold medals on two years.

Haaland's wait to end his personal drought in the bigger matches was about to end.

The Blues had both Fernandez and Marc Cucurella booked by referee Darren England for crude tackles designed to disrupt City's attempted counter-attacks - another indication of just how difficult this was proving for the west Londoners.

After the break, Bernardo Silva and Nico O'Reilly combined to give Semenyo a chance from close in but Jorrel Hato did just enough to force the winger to nod over the bar.

Chelsea chances were still thin on the ground - although Moises Caicedo did sent a header goalwards following a corner which Rodri got back to nod away to safety without too much fuss.

But at least they started to ask a few questions after upping the tempo - forcing a yellow card for Abdukodir Khusanov and a VAR check after a Fernandez pass struck O'Reilly's arm inadvertently.

Yet the signs of improvement proved illusory as Semenyo then scored one of Wembley's most eye-catching cup final goals to send the lucky west end of the stadium into raptures

Fernandez came close to an instant equaliser with a volley with the outside of the boot from inside the box but it was just too high and it proved to be the last moment of danger.

Half time sub Rayan Cherki almost sealed it - first by setting up Nunes for a shot against the near post, then with a venomous shot that Sanchez saved well. The keeper, in a Petr Cech style skull cap, had kept his side alive at least for another few minutes.

Chelsea, who lost their last three FA Cup finals in successive seasons (to Arsenal, Leicester City and Liverpool in 2020, 21 and 22) were hoping to inflict a third defeat in a row on their adversaries - City having lost to Man United two years ago and Crystal Palace a year ago. But long before the end it looked a forlorn hope for the team led by interim coach Calum McFarlane.

Familiar finalists

Blues: (4-2-3-1) Sanchez - Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Hato - James (Delap 82), Caicedo - Palmer, Fernandez, Cucurella (Pedro Neto 74) - Joao Pedro (Garnacho 86)

Cityzens: (4-2-3-1) Trafford - Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly - Rodri (Kovacic 65), Bernardo Silva - Semenyo, Omar Marmoush (Cherki h/t), Doku - Haaland

Attendance: 83,337