Manchester City players celebrate
Manchester City players celebrate
View Image
Antoine Semenyo had endured a frustrating afternoon at Wembley. But Manchester City fans will love him just the way he is after a sumptuous backheel flick won an FA Cup final otherwise lacking quality.
What a season Semenyo has had, first to lead the Bournemouth charge to punch above theirs and then to come straight in to lift a City team that were starting to flag. The Ghana international made his first appearance for the Blues in the FA Cup third round, so it was fitting that he should make the difference in the final as he brilliantly converted an Erling Haaland pass across the box.
That sent euphoria around the (light) Blue half of Wembley but also relief on an afternoon that was more nervous than it could have been for City given they have been in such opposite form. Chelsea were dismantled 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last month, so were strong underdogs for this showpiece.
Not for the first time in a final against Chelsea though, Guardiola had a big idea. Omar Marmoush started up front alongside Haaland, with City sacrificing the space in behind their No.9 in order to make runs in behind.
That was the plan anyway, but it never really looked like working out and at one point in the first half the manager had to call Marmoush over and tell him what he should have been doing. Rayan Cherki and three other midfielders were sent to warm up before half-time, and it was the Frenchman who came on at the break in an admission that City weren't clicking.
Just after the hour mark, Rodri - the bigger surprise in the starting XI - also came off with his legs having run out of strength. Guardiola had wanted his experience knowing he wasn't fully fit, and as he left the pitch he consciously made sure that his teammates saw him pointing to his head calling for calm.
Not long after, City had their lead as Semenyo pounced to convert a Haaland ball that was behind him. For all the value of experience in a final, it was the January recruit who had won City the game.
Chelsea pushed hard for an equaliser, although their biggest threat appeared to be hoping that referee Darren England would give a penalty whenever Joao Pedro came into contact with Abdukodir Khusanov; he never did, and they never got the goal that they needed.
As the full-time whistle went and blue-and-white flags waved over Wembley, Guardiola soon headed for Semenyo to congratulate the matchwinner before the players came together in a circle of delight.
Semenyo's fairytale season has already brought him and City two trophies. And now they head back to his old club Bournemouth hoping they can surprise even more people and add a third.