MANCHESTER City won their first FA Cup in three years to complete a domestic cup double as they beat Chelsea 1-0 thanks to an Antoine Semenyo goal. There was to be no fairy tale ending for a Chelsea side who have had a very disappointing season, reports the Voice of Sport from Wembley Stadium.
From the start Chelsea showed more energy than they had in recent games. However, just before the break Erling Haaland saw his shot saved by Robert Sanchez at his near post.
Just after the break Nico O’Reilly floated a ball into the Chelsea are but Antoine Semenyo headed it just over the bar.
Chelsea win with Cole Plamer to the fore
In the 71st minute Haaland crossed from the right to Semenyo who backheeled the ball spectacularly past Sanchez to give Man City the lead. Seconds later Enzo Fernandez dinked the ball just over the Man City goal as he nearly brought Chelsea level.
That was that as Chelsea looked for an equaliser, but the truth be told they simply have no fire power up front despite all the money spent. If as speculated, Xabi Alonso becomes the Chelsea manager next season his in tray will be full as the west London team needs a factory reset.
Back to Manchester City who still have a slim chance of winning a domestic Treble, they were the better team with history makers all over the place. Marc Guehi, who will be at the heart of the England defence at the World Cup this summer did not put a foot wrong with his majestic performance constantly spotting danger and bringing the ball out of the back. He has now won back-to-back FA Cup winners’ medals including the one he won last season with Crystal Palace against his current employers.
What a fairy tale story for Semenyo who simply does what it says on the tin with a no-frills style of play as an orthodox winger who provides width and scores important goals. He only joined City in January and has added an FA Cup winners medal to go with the one from the Carabao Cup.
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane said: “I thought it was an evenly matched game. Both teams had moments of control. I have a lot of respect for Chelsea. It is a disappointing result for us but congratulations to Manchester City.
“The goal is a one in a hundred goal and there is not much more we could have done to defend it. I am disappointed the lads did not get what they deserved today and sometimes football can be cruel. I felt we went toe to toe with one of the best sides in the world. We had momentum towards the end of the first half but we did not that goal.”
When he was asked what the implication of Chelsea not qualifying for Europe next season he added: ”You are asking an interim coach and I am not privy to that information. My job is to prepare the team for the match against Spurs on Tuesday and that is a massive game.”
City manager Pep Guardiola said:” It is very special to win. They were better and more aggressive but we got better when we scored the goal. This trophy is special and really cool for the tradition. Semenyo normally would cross the ball to Haaland but today he crossed it to him. The finals are slender margins. Semenyo’s goal was a really good goal.”
www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup