Antoine Semenyo’s brilliant finish proved to be the difference as Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley to win the Emirates FA Cup for an eighth time.
The Ghanaian winger, named player of the match, met Erling Haaland’s cross with a wonderfully executed flick at the near post to ensure his team completed the domestic cup double this season and condemn Chelsea to a fourth showpiece defeat since they last lifted the trophy in 2018.
City had earlier had a goal ruled out for offside and held on valiantly as Chelsea pushed hard for a leveller.
The full-time whistle was greeted by the sound of thousands of jubilant City fans as their attention now turns to trying to overhaul Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title.
OH. MY. WORD.
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 16, 2026
Antoine Semenyo with a sensational flick to light up this #EmiratesFACup Final and give @ManCity the breakthrough 🤯
📺 @BBCMOTD, @footballontnt and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/6WEjBKOHKS
Manchester City, appearing in a record fourth consecutive FA Cup Final, enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening exchanges and created the first chance in the sixth minute.
Semenyo finished off a mazy run into the penalty area with a shot that was deflected into the path of Omar Marmoush but the Egyptian’s effort on the spin was easily dealt with by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
The winger then lashed a free-kick into the wall shortly after, before again cutting into Chelsea’s penalty area from the right but his ball across the six-yard box wasn’t attacked by Haaland at the back post.
Calum McFarlane’s Chelsea failed to register an attempt on goal during the opening ten minutes but they did force Matheus Nunes into evasive action from a wicked cross.
Minutes later, João Pedro found himself inside Manchester City’s penalty area but his footing let him down at the crucial moment when he looked to get his shot away.
As the game began to open up, Reece James’ mistake almost resulted in Haaland breaking his Wembley scoring duck but the 25-year-old appeared to be caught in two minds when he flashed his effort across the face of goal.
Minutes later, Haaland did have the ball in the net but his back-post tap in was ruled out for offside after Nunes failed to time his run when collecting Semenyo’s ball down the right.
City’s January acquisition from Bournemouth continued to look dangerous down his flank, attacking Marc Cucurella at will, meanwhile, Chelsea’s late wave of pressure failed to result in a meaningful effort on goal.
Marc Guéhi’s delightful ball in behind presented Haaland with a great opportunity to break the deadlock just before half time, but Sánchez stood tall to avert the Norwegian’s shot from a tight angle.
Rayan Cherki’s introduction at the start of the second half almost paid dividends within just two minutes of the Frenchman being on the pitch.
The 22 year old worked the ball around well before Nico O’Reilly’s pinpoint cross was met by the head of the leaping Semenyo but his header, although powerful, flew straight over the bar.
James Trafford’s blushes were spared by a well-positioned Rodri as Chelsea, who had failed to score in their last four finals at the national stadium, had their best chance of the game in the 55th minute.
City’s keeper inadvertently allowed the ball to go out for a corner when trying to clear his lines, and from the resulting set-piece, Moisés Caicedo’s looping header was only kept out by the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner on the line.
The second 45 minutes followed in the same vein as the first in terms of the tackles being made, neither team giving an inch when trying to win back the ball.
As the hour mark passed, the Stamford Bridge-based side found themselves with more of the ball, but their well-crafted move down the right wing failed to get the finish it required as Pedro hit the deck following a collision.
The prospect of a sixth goalless FA Cup Final was finally quashed in the 71st minute when Semenyo sent the City fans into raptures.
Your champions... @ManCity 🏆#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/3kqwu7Gg6j
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 16, 2026
After Haaland picked up a loose ball, a lovely exchange of passes ensued before the ball was once against at the feet of City’s number nine inside the penalty area.
This time, he picked out Semenyo at the near post, who produced one of the great Emirates FA Cup Final goals when he flicked the ball past a diving Sánchez, despite being tightly marked by James.
It lit the spark in a game which had only ever been bubbling up until that point, and Chelsea almost responded with a goal of their own but Enzo Fernandez’s effort from Levi Colwill’s flick on landed on the roof of the net.
Runners up three times in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Chelsea attempted to lay siege on City’s goal, but ultimately their mini barrage of shots, crosses and pressure didn’t result in the equaliser they do desperately craved.
The intervention of Caicedo kept Chelsea in the game when he snuffed out O’Reilly crossed seemingly bound for Haaland.
Cherki’s drive was well-stopped by an outstretched hand of Sánchez just moments after Nunes' deflected shot hit the post as City looked to put the game to bed.
Substitute Liam Delap had Chelsea’s final chance of the match but his effort never looked like troubling Trafford, as City held on to take the spoils and give the departing Bernardo Silva one final Wembley success.
