Fernandez sends Chelsea into FA Cup final to lift gloom after Rosenior sacking

TL;DR

Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal to send Chelsea to the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Leeds, following the sacking of Liam Rosenior. Chelsea will face Manchester City in the final on May 16, aiming to salvage their season.

Key points

Enzo Fernandez scored the winner for Chelsea against Leeds
Chelsea will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final
Liam Rosenior was sacked after a series of defeats
Chelsea's last FA Cup win was in 2018
The match marked Chelsea's first goal in nearly 300 minutes

Mentioned in this story

Enzo FernandezLiam Rosenior

ChelseaLeedsManchester CityFA Cup

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez (2R) headed the winner against Leeds (Adrian DENNIS) (Adrian DENNIS/AFP/AFP) Enzo Fernandez fired Chelsea into the FA Cup final against Manchester City as the Argentine sealed a 1-0 win against Leeds in the Blues' first match after Liam Rosenior's sacking. Fernandez's first-half header in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley was an ironic twist after another farcical chapter in Chelsea's turbulent recent history. The 25-year-old midfielder emerged as a divisive figure towards the end of Rosenior's brief reign after he was dropped for two games for hinting in an interview that he was considering leaving at the end of the season. Rosenior's handling of the incident undermined his already-fragile relationship with his squad as Chelsea's form spiralled out of control. He was sacked on Wednesday after a woeful run of five successive defeats without scoring -- the club's worst streak since 1912 -- climaxed with Tuesday's 3-0 hammering at Brighton. Rosenior, who lasted only 106 days after arriving from Strasbourg, had sealed his fate by criticising the players' desire and spirit against Brighton. That outburst was the final straw for Chelsea's owners, exposing a rift between Rosenior and his stars that included leaked team selections and several players, including Fernandez, publicly expressing frustration with his predecessor Enzo Maresca's departure. Chelsea's woeful run has ruined their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League, leaving them 10 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa with just four games left. But, now led by interim manager Calum McFarlane, the Blues can partially salvage a miserable campaign by winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2018. They will face City in the final on May 16 after Pep Guardiola's team came from behind to beat second tier Southampton 2-1 on Saturday. Eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea are into the final for the 17th time in their history and the first since losing to in the 2022 showpiece. If Chelsea can beat City at Wembley, the inexperienced McFarlane would become one of the most unlikely FA Cup-winning managers after stepping up from his role with the club's Under-21 squad to assist Rosenior. McFarlane has inherited a mess but he deserves credit for coaxing a more cohesive display from Chelsea so soon after Rosenior's sacking.

Q&A

What was the score of the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds?

Chelsea won the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds 1-0.

Who scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final?

Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal for Chelsea with a header.

When is the FA Cup final where Chelsea will face Manchester City?

The FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City is scheduled for May 16.

Why was Liam Rosenior sacked as Chelsea's manager?

Liam Rosenior was sacked after a poor run of five consecutive defeats and criticism of player performance.