Antoine Semenyo wrote his name into FA Cup history at Wembley on May 16, 2026, converting the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute to hand Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Final. Pep Guardiola’s side were the more composed outfit across 90 minutes, dominating possession and limiting Chelsea to a single shot on target. For Chelsea, managed by interim boss Calum McFarlane, it was a afternoon that never really ignited, their discipline repeatedly tested as three yellow cards summed up their frustration.
Key Moments
- 29′, Enzo Fernandez picked up a yellow card for tripping, the first of three bookings Chelsea would collect on the day.
- 32′, Marc Cucurella followed his teammate into the book for a second tripping foul, leaving Chelsea walking a disciplinary tightrope.
- 46′, Guardiola made an early second-half change, withdrawing Omar Marmoush at the break to reshape City’s attacking threat.
- 65′, Rodri, who had started in City’s midfield, was replaced as Guardiola managed his lineup with the game still goalless.
- 72′, The breakthrough: Antoine Semenyo converted to give Manchester City a 1-0 lead and, ultimately, the FA Cup title.
- 90′, Moises Caicedo was booked for roughing as Chelsea’s evening ended on a sour note, their third yellow card of the match.
Tactical Breakdown
Manchester City imposed their rhythm from the outset, finishing the match with 56% possession to Chelsea’s 44% and completing 470 of 541 passes (87% accuracy). They generated nine total shots, four of which were on target, and consistently worked the ball inside the box, creating seven shots from inside the area. City’s goalkeeper James Trafford was barely tested, recording zero saves across the 90 minutes, a statistic that tells the story of Chelsea’s toothless attack more than any other.
Guardiola’s decision to replace Omar Marmoush at halftime injected fresh impetus into City’s attacking movements, and the introduction appeared to unsettle Chelsea’s defensive shape. By the time Semenyo found the net in the 72nd minute, City had clearly been the more threatening side. The earlier withdrawal of Rodri in the 65th minute showed Guardiola was also thinking about squad management, with City holding enough quality in reserve to see the game out comfortably.
Chelsea, operating under interim manager Calum McFarlane, never found a foothold in the match. Their attacking output was stark: seven total shots, only one on target, with three offsides compounding a lack of cutting edge. The two first-half yellow cards for Cucurella and Fernandez pinned Chelsea back emotionally as much as structurally, and late substitutions bringing on Reece James and Joao Pedro could not manufacture the equalizer McFarlane’s side desperately needed.
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Verdict
Manchester City’s 1-0 victory delivers Pep Guardiola another piece of silverware, with Semenyo’s goal proving all that separated these two sides across a tight, attritional Final. For Chelsea and interim manager Calum McFarlane, the defeat underlines the gap that remains between their current form and the top of English football. City, by contrast, add the FA Cup to their season’s haul and reaffirm their standing as England’s most consistent cup team.