Manchester City added the FA Cup to their Carabao Cup triumph with a gritty 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley, thanks to a moment of inspiration from Antoine Semenyo. The forward's deft second-half flick from an Erling Haaland cross settled a tense final, while defender Marc Guehi delivered a commanding performance at the back to blunt Chelsea's attack. The win sealed Pep Guardiola's 20th major title with the club and underlined City's domestic dominance.
The decisive goal arrived in the 67th minute, showcasing Semenyo's quick thinking. Haaland drifted into the right channel, exposing Marc Cucurella's positioning, and whipped in a low cross. Semenyo, with his back to goal, improvised a clever flick that left Robert Sanchez rooted, the ball nestling into the far corner. It was a clinical finish that highlighted the understanding between City's forwards, and it proved enough to break Chelsea's resistance.
Rodri's return to the starting lineup after a four-game injury layoff was a huge boost for City, and the Spaniard immediately brought stability to midfield. Thrown straight into the heat of a final, he anchored the side alongside Bernardo Silva, winning duels and recycling possession expertly. His most vital contribution came at a Chelsea corner, when he headed Moises Caicedo's goal-bound effort off the line — a reminder of his irreplaceable value.
Chelsea, for all their defensive solidity, will rue a series of missed opportunities. Caicedo's header seemed destined for the net until Rodri's intervention, and early in the first half, a sublime scissor pass from Enzo Fernandez released Joao Pedro on the counter. The Brazilian, under pressure, slipped at the critical moment and saw his shot skew wide. Had he squared for a teammate, the outcome might have been different. Multiple penalty appeals also fell on deaf ears as Joao Pedro went down too easily.
At the heart of City's defensive resilience was Marc Guehi, who marshalled the backline with authority. He made crucial interceptions and handled the threat of Cole Palmer, the former City star who endured a frustrating afternoon. Palmer, touted as Chelsea's talisman, was largely anonymous, his few first-half touches fading into anonymity as the game wore on. Reece James also showed rust on his first start since March, nearly gifting City a goal when dispossessed by Jeremy Doku in a dangerous area.
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill was a standout performer despite the defeat. Making only his second start since returning from an ACL injury, the centre-back showed no signs of rust, pinging accurate line-breaking passes that helped Chelsea progress up the pitch. Thomas Tuchel, watching from the stands, may have noted that Colwill's display could earn him an England recall. His partner Wesley Fofana also did well to limit the influence of Nico O'Reilly and Doku for long stretches.
In goal, Chelsea's Robert Sanchez played wearing a full skull cap, having returned from the head injury he sustained against Nottingham Forest. He made several decent saves to deny Haaland, Matheus Nunes, and Rayan Cherki, but had no chance with Semenyo's finish. His distribution was steady, though Chelsea's inability to test James Trafford at the other end until late in the game limited their threat.
The tactical battle saw Chelsea's back five, deployed by Calum McFarlane, largely contain City's attacking patterns, but the lack of width from Malo Gusto at wing-back cost them. Pedro Neto's introduction for Cucurella late on failed to spark a comeback, and substitutes Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho had too little time to make an impact.
Guardiola's 20th major honour cements his legacy as one of the all-time greats, and this double will be a satisfying response to critics who questioned City's consistency after an up-and-down season. For Chelsea, the defeat extends their wait for silverware under McFarlane, but the performances of players like Colwill offer hope. The FA Cup final may have been decided by fine margins, but City's experience and Semenyo's genius ultimately proved decisive.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.