Antoine Semenyo scored a spectacular back-heel goal as Manchester City F.C. beat Chelsea F.C. 1-0 to win the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
The Ghana winger settled a tense and scrappy contest late in the second half when he improvised an audacious flick to turn Erling Haaland’s cross into the net. The victory handed City their eighth FA Cup title and a second domestic trophy this season following their League Cup triumph in March.
Semenyo, signed from AFC Bournemouth during the January transfer window, delivered the decisive moment in a game short on clear-cut chances.
It marked a third FA Cup success under manager Pep Guardiola, who has now won 20 trophies during his decade in charge of City.
City’s victory also ended successive FA Cup final defeats against Crystal Palace F.C. and Manchester United F.C.
Guardiola’s side remain in contention in the Premier League title race, though they trail leaders Arsenal F.C. with two matches remaining.
Chelsea, meanwhile, endured another setback in a disappointing campaign.The London club, managed on an interim basis by Calum McFarlane, struggled to threaten despite a disciplined defensive display and remain outside the Premier League’s European qualification places. Chelsea fans protested against owners BlueCo before kick-off, chanting “we want our Chelsea back” amid mounting frustration over the club’s direction.
City dominated possession for much of the match, with Haaland twice going close before Semenyo’s late intervention settled the contest.
Chelsea thought they should have had a first-half penalty when Joao Pedro went down under a challenge from Abdukodir Khusanov, but appeals were waved away.