Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0:City player ratings as City claim the FA Cup

As the game entered the 15th minute, Manchester City were dominating possession and beginning to impose themselves. City were finding success on the right-hand side, as the combination play between Matheus Nunes and Antoine Semenyo seemed to be their best attacking avenue in the first 15 minutes. However, City didn’t create any real openings in the early stages, as Chelsea had employed a packed defense and were looking to hit Pep Guardiola’s side on the counter.

The game was starved of any real opportunities after 20 minutes.

Outside of a Chelsea counter in the 21st minute that was set up by an Enzo Fernandez ball over the top of Manchester City’s defence that set Joao Pedro free, and ended in the Brazilian striker falling over while trying to shoot under pressure from Abdukodir Khusanov, the game hadn’t had any real goal-mouth action. That changed in the 23rd minute when Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland pressed Reece James into an error on the edge of his own penalty area. Haaland raced clear, but his cross/shot was poor and flashed across the face of the Chelsea goal. In truth, Haaland’s delivery was poor and the chance was gone.

Manchester City did have the ball in the back of the net in the 27th minute. Matheus Nunes was played in behind the Chelsea defence, and he played a low cross to the back post that Haaland tapped in. However, Matheus Nunes was clearly offside, and the goal was correctly ruled out.

Enzo Fernandez picks up a yellow card in the game’s first real flashpoint.

Enzo Fernandez picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Bernardo Silva on the half-hour mark. Jeremy Doku nutmegged Cole Palmer on the halfway line, and Fernandez made a fine tackle to prevent Doku from progressing any further. The ball fell to Bernardo Silva, which saw Enzo Fernandez dive in recklessly on the Manchester City captain. Referee Darren England showed the Argentinian midfielder a yellow card in the game’s first flashpoint. Marc Cucurella picked up a yellow card a minute later when he cut down Antoine Semenyo when City had a promising counter attack developing.

Robert Sanchez denied Erling Haaland in the 43rd minute. Marc Guehi played a ball in behind the Chelsea backline, which set Haaland free. The Norwegian international smashed a shot on goal from the left of the Chelsea penalty area that Robert Sanchez saved at the cost of a corner.

Bernardo Silva gave away possession in a dangerous position in the 45th minute, which led to a Chelsea counter. Joao Pedro drove into the City area, but Abdukodir Khusanov got across to prevent Joao Pedro from making anything of the opportunity. Khusanov shoulder-charged the Chelsea striker in the penalty area, and the Brazilian striker went down dramatically. Chelsea appealed for a penalty, but their shout fell on deaf ears.

That would be the final moment of significance in the first half. Both teams had spells of possession, but Erling Haaland’s 43rd-minute chance was the only truly significant attacking moment for either side. From a Manchester City point of view, they lacked creativity in the centre of the pitch, and Phil Foden or Rayan Cherki seemed to be the ideal players to add what Pep Guardiola’s side lacked off the bench.

Second half.

Rayan Cherki replaced Omar Marmoush at halftime in a substitution that simply had to be made by Pep Guardiola. Cherki’s introduction almost paid immediate dividends for Manchester City. Jeremy Doku played a ball from the left to Rayan Cherki in the middle of the pitch on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area. Cherki played a quality ball to the left to Nico O’Reilly, who stood up a quality cross to the back post. Antoine Semenyo got his head to the ball, but his header looped onto the roof of the net with Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez beaten.

Rodri cleared a Moises Caicedo header off the line in the 54th minute. Chelsea won a corner after James Trafford lazily allowed a ball he had in possession to roll over the byline. Reece James played a corner that Trafford initially punched away. Trafford’s punch looped its way to Caicedo, who headed the ball on target. Rodri headed the ball away, and City and James Trafford dodged a bullet.

Chelsea had begun the second half extremely well.

As the game entered the 60th minute, Chelsea were enjoying their best spell of the match. They had another corner and were pinning City in their own penalty area, but they couldn’t create any chances just yet. Their supporters were sensing that Chelsea were in the ascendancy.

Rodri was replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the 65th minute. Manchester City’s midfield general looked short of a gallop and had done all he could when he was taken off. Manchester City needed to get control of the match as Chelsea were the better team in the second half so far.

As the game ticked into the 70th minute, Manchester City had wrestled back control from Chelsea. City had a series of corners but failed to create any chances either. You did begin to sense that one goal coyod decide today’s FA Cup.

Manchester City take the lead as Antoine Semenyo produces a piece of magic!!!!

Antoine Semenyo would give Manchester City the lead in the 72nd minute. Rayan Cherki won the ball in midfield and played it to Erling Haaland. Haaland played the ball back to Cherki 40 yards out from the Chelsea goal. Cherki played the ball to Bernardo Silva, who slipped it to Erling Haaland. The Norwegian international fired in a low cross from the right that Antoine Semenyo scored from with an excellent back-heel finish to give City the lead.

Chelsea almost equalized two minutes later. Calum McFarlane’s side won a throw-in in a dangerous position, which was hurled into the City penalty area. Wesley Fofana flicked on a header, and Enzo Fernandez got on the end of it. The Argentinian midfielder produced an acrobatic finish from eight yards out that hit the roof of the net with James Trafford beaten.

As the game entered the 80th minute, Manchester City had something to hold on to, and Chelsea were pushing for an equalizer. The game was delicately poised. Chelsea had lifted in the second half, and Pep Guardiola’s side had responded. Any result seemed possible as the 2026 FA Cup final entered its closing stages.

Manchester City had three great chances to seal victory in the game’s closing stages. First, Nico O’Reilly wasted a great opportunity to cross in the 83rd minute. O’Reilly was played into space on the left, but his cross to an unmarked Erling Haaland was cut out by the Chelsea defence. A minute later, Rayan Cherki set Matheus Nunes free on the right; his shot/cross was deflected and saved onto the post by Robert Sanchez. In the 85th minute, Rayan Cherki was denied by Robert Sanchez as he unleashed a stinging left-footed shot from close range from close range that was too close to Sanchez.

City had to hold on as the 2026 FA Cup final entered stoppage time.

As the 2026 FA Cup final entered five minutes of stoppage time, Liam Delap headed a good chance well over the bar in the 91dt minute. Chelsea right-hand Malo Gusto fired in a good cross from the right. Delay got a good header away from 10 yards out but the ball ended with the Chelsea fans behind the City goal.

Liam Delap’s header would be Chelsea’s final chance of the 2026 FA Cup final. Manchester City had the opportunity to seal victory in the 94th minute. A swift City counter saw Rayan Cherki found in acres of space on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area. Cherki had Erling Haaland unmarked to his right, but Cherki never played the ball due to some good Chelsea defending. But it didn’t matter when the chance was gone. City had chewed up time and that was more important.

At the final whistle, Manchester City had completed a Carabao Cup/FA Cup double. The manner of Manchester City’s performance doesn’t matter. All that matters in a cup final is the result. City had won the FA Cup for the eighth time. That is all that mattered today at Wembley. The time for forensic analysis of today’s performance from City will come, but for now it is time to bask in the glory of Manchester City winning another major trophy.

City player ratings.

**James Trafford-6/10:**Manchester City’s back up keeper had no saves to make. He was good in possession when required.

**Matheus Nunes-7.5/10:**I thought Matheus Nunes was superb at right-back. He defended well and was good going forward. 

Abdukodir Khusanov-5/10: The Uzbekistan international played too close to the edge today. Having said that, he should learn plenty from a performance where his inexperience showed.

Marc Guehi-8.5/10: In my opinion, across the full 90 minutes Guehi was Manchester City’s man-of-the-match. He defended exceptionally well and was composed throughout the match.

**Nico O’Reilly-7/10:**I liked Nico O’Reilly’s game. He did his job defensively and had opportunities going forward that he didn’t quite take.

Rodri-5/10: Manchester City’s midfield general was taken off after X minutes. He looked every bit a player who hadn’t played in five matches as he struggled with the pace of the game.

**Bernardo Silva-7/10:**Outside of one misplaced pass in the first half, Bernardo put in the performance we all knew he would.

**Antoine Semenyo-7.5/10:**His goal decided the game and was absolutely brilliant. Outside of that, Semenyo was busy throughout today’s match.

**Omar Marmoush-4/10:**A poor performance from Marmoush. He looked lost and couldn’t get into the game before he was replaced by Rayan Cherki at halftime. 

Jeremy Doku-6.5/10: The Belgian winger was double marked which is the ultimate compliment to his talent. He never gave up and Doku was an outlet as the game became stretched for Manchester City. 

**Erling Haaland-6.5/10:**Haaland’s cross set up Semenyo’s winner. He toiled away and if City provided him with better delivery he’d have scored.

Substitutes.

**Rayan Cherki-8/10:**Simply put, Rayan Cherki should have started today’s match. But he made a huge and decisive impact off the bench. It was his brilliant play in possession that created Manchester City’s winner. Cherki is made for the big occasion.

Mateo Kovacic-7/10: Kovacic added bite and legs to Manchester City’s midfield when they desperately needed it.