Manchester City win FA Cup

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Chelsea 0 - 1 Manchester City 

Antoine Semenyo produced a moment of individual genius to settle a rather disappointing FA Cup final as Manchester City beat Chelsea

Author | Macca

Stadium | Wembley Stadium

The showpiece had largely been a dismal non-event until Semenyo broke the deadlock brilliantly with 18 minutes left.

Erling Haaland, had worked tirelessly with little service, but it was his cross that Semenyo met on the run with a perfect right-foot flick across Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez.

A great moment settles a terrible game of football

The winning goal was out of context with what had gone before, but was enough to secure City victory as they added the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup won against Arsenal, also ending a run of successive final defeats against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

For Chelsea, it meant the disappointment of a record fourth successive FA Cup final defeat to end their chances of silverware this season.

Watch | The winning goal| Posted on FA Cup YouTube channel

Time for another new start at Chelsea and Stamford Bridge

For a spell in the second half at Wembley, Chelsea unsettled City and their supporters began to sense another familiar escape act, salvaging a turbulent season with silverware.

It was not to be. Chelsea could not find the finishing touch and were left exposed to the kind of decisive intervention Semenyo delivered.

Chelsea must now focus on ensuring they will be playing European football next season through their Premier League position, beginning with Tuesday's meeting against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, the club must also embark on yet another rebuild as they step up efforts to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new head coach.

Should the move be completed, the arrival of one of Europe's most coveted young coaches, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title before a brief spell amid the dysfunction at Real Madrid, would bring a renewed sense of optimism.

Chelsea are badly in need of that after this FA Cup final defeat and a deeply disappointing campaign.

Location: Wembley HA9 0WS, UK

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