Manchester City players pose with the winner’s trophy after the English FA Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo)
Manchester City FC defeated Chelsea FC 1-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, with Antoine Semenyo scoring the only goal of the match. The final had produced few chances before Semenyo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. Meeting a cross from Erling Haaland, the forward used a back-heel flick to send the ball into the far corner past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. The win kept Manchester City in contention for a domestic treble after already winning the English League Cup this season. Pep Guardiola’s side is also second in the Premier League table, two points behind Arsenal FC with two rounds remaining. It was Guardiola’s 17th major trophy in 10 years at Manchester City and the 35th of his managerial career. Manchester City won the FA Cup for the eighth time and moved level with Chelsea, Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC on the all-time winners’ list. Chelsea’s defeat means the club will finish the season without a trophy, one year after winning the Club World Cup. The campaign has been marked by instability, with the club changing two coaches since the start of the year. Chelsea were led by Calum McFarlane, a former youth coach taking charge of only his seventh first-team match. Before kickoff, Chelsea supporters protested against the club’s American owners outside Wembley Stadium. Despite the circumstances, Chelsea managed to frustrate Manchester City for much of the match before Semenyo’s winner. The Ghana forward joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January and has now scored 10 goals for the club while helping them win two trophies. After the match, Manchester City fans sang “Blue Moon” as Bernardo Silva and John Stones lifted the trophy. Both players are set to leave the club at the end of the season. “Since I arrived it’s been 20 trophies, which isn’t bad. I care a lot about Manchester City,” said Bernardo, counting Community Shield victories as well. Manchester City had lost the previous two FA Cup finals before this victory. This was also the fourth straight year they reached the final, having last won the competition in 2023. Arsenal remain the most successful club in FA Cup history with 14 titles, while Manchester United FC are second with 13.
