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The Emirates FA Cup

Fernandez winner defeats Leeds United and sets up Manchester City clash

Sunday 26 Apr 2026
The FA

Enzo Fernandez’s first-half header sent Chelsea through to their 17th Emirates FA Cup Final - and a sixth in ten seasons - with a 1-0 victory against rivals Leeds United.

The captain brilliantly steered Pedro Neto’s cross beyond Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri for a deserved lead, while Robert Sanchez made a string of fine saves at the other end to see them through.

Chelsea will meet Manchester City in the Final on 16 May and caretaker manager Calum McFarlane will hope to emulate Roberto Di Matteo from 2012 and win the Emirates FA Cup while in temporary charge of the Blues.

The win, which comes just four days after they sacked head coach Liam Rosenior, ensures Chelsea preserve their 100 per cent winning record against Leeds in the FA Cup, this their seventh victory.

The most famous of the previous six was the 1970 Final, which was the first to require a replay since 1912 and eventually won by the Blues 2-1 after a fiercely-contested 90 minutes. This was not quite as physical but as equally intense.

Leeds created several chances but came up against an in-form Sanchez in goal, while Chelsea should have scored more than once.

On a gloriously sunny day at Wembley, both sides started with attacking intent and had a chance each inside the first five minutes.

Leeds were on the front foot from the off but Ao Tanaka blazed a 20-yard free-kick over the bar, before Fernandez stung the palms of Perri with a fizzing shot from outside the box.

Chelsea dominated possession – commanding almost 89% in the first ten minutes – but Leeds created the first real chance as a clever reverse pass from Dominic Calvert-Lewin released Brenden Aaronson clean through on goal but his low shot was brilliantly saved by Sanchez.

Chelsea were next to go close as Fernandez, playing in an advanced midfield position, cleverly played Joao Pedro in on goal. The striker hit a first-time left-footed shot against the inside of the near post and watched in agony as it ricocheted across the face off goal and narrowly missed the opposing corner.

However, the Blues’ pain was short-lived. Pascal Struijk gave the ball away and Chelsea made him pay, as Neto’s floated cross from the right was headed expertly into the net by Fernandez from eight yards.

The Londoners, who had won nine of their last eleven FA Cup semi-finals, continued to threaten and Joao Pedro went close to a spectacular goal by hitting a first-time volley on the turn from 20 yards narrowly wide.

Leeds started the second half far more positively and Sanchez needed to make a fine one-handed save to prevent substitute Anton Stach’s bullet of a shot from 20 yards from finding the net.

But Chelsea remained a threat and should have scored a second when a slick passing move surgically opened up Leeds’ defence, but Joao Pedro hesitated inside the box and was unable to get a proper shot on goal from six yards.

Alejandro Garnacho was the next to go close. The Argentine winger was found in space in the box but his shot was quickly charged down by James Justin and deflected marginally over the bar.

The second half was played at a much higher tempo as chances came at both ends. A superb cross from Noah Okafor found Calvert-Lewin but his header was well saved by Sanchez, while Tanaka mis-timed a volley 12 yards from goal and it skewed wide.

Leeds’ energy subsided as the second half went on allowing Chelsea to get over the line and into a tenth Cup Final since 2007.

By FA Staff
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