Manchester City edged past Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley on Saturday, with Antoine Semenyo's stunning second-half strike securing the FA Cup and completing a Carabao Cup and FA Cup double for Pep Guardiola's side. The victory also keeps City's hopes of a domestic treble alive, as they continue to chase glory on multiple fronts this season.
The big pre-match news was the return of midfield linchpin Rodri, who had missed City's previous five matches with a groin injury. Guardiola opted for an attacking lineup, fielding Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Antoine Semenyo, and Jeremy Doku together. The message was clear: City expected Chelsea to sit deep with a back five, and they needed pace and power to break through.
Both teams traded possession in the opening stages, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. In the sixth minute, City carved out the first opportunity when Bernardo Silva fed Semenyo on the right. The Ghanaian cut inside Marc Cucurella and unleashed a left-footed shot that deflected kindly to Marmoush, just six yards out. However, the Egyptian's effort lacked conviction and was easily gathered by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
As the first half progressed, City began to assert their dominance, particularly down the right flank. The combination play between Matheus Nunes and Semenyo looked promising, but Chelsea's packed defense and counter-attacking threat kept the game finely balanced. In the 21st minute, Enzo Fernandez's lofted ball over the top released Joao Pedro, but the Brazilian striker stumbled under pressure from Abdukodir Khusanov as he tried to shoot.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute, and it came from a moment of individual brilliance. Semenyo, who had been a constant menace all afternoon, picked up the ball on the right, cut inside, and unleashed an unstoppable effort that flew into the top corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any cup final, and it proved to be the difference on a day when City's performance was far from their best, but the result was all that mattered.