Semenyo Heel Finish Hands Manchester City FA Cup Win Over Chelsea

LONDON (AP): Few goals in 155 years of FA Cup finals can match the daring of the one that decided yesterday’s showpiece at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City edged Chelsea 1-0 after Antoine Semenyo turned a tight, largely chance-starved match on its head with a stunning heel flick in the second half.

The forward met Erling Haaland’s cross in the 72nd minute, hooked the ball with his heel, and steered it along the ground into the far corner beyond a stretching Robert Sanchez.

"It has happened a couple of times in training. It happened perfectly today. ... It came straight to me, and I had to improvise myself as quickly as I can," Semenyo told the BBC. "It is a good finish, I can't lie."

Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane offered no argument.

"For me it's a one in 100 goal. It's a really low XG goal," he said. "For me, no, there's not much more you can do to defend it."

The win keeps City alive for a domestic treble after earlier lifting the English League Cup. Pep Guardiola’s side also sit second in the Premier League, two points adrift of Arsenal with two matchdays left.

For Guardiola, it was a 17th major honour in 10 seasons at City and his 35th in management.

City claimed the Cup for an eighth time, drawing level with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham on the all-time roll of honour in joint third place.

Chelsea, meanwhile, face a barren campaign — a sharp fall from last season’s Club World Cup crown amid months of upheaval.

The London club have parted with two head coaches since the new year and arrived at the final under McFarlane, a former youth coach overseeing only his seventh senior fixture.

Supporters voiced anger at the club’s American ownership with a protest outside the ground before kick-off. For long stretches McFarlane’s setup still stifled City — until Semenyo’s decisive flash.

The Ghana international moved from Bournemouth in January and has already scored 10 times while contributing to two silverware runs.

"As a kid I have always wanted to be playing for the top teams. It took a long time to get there, but I am grateful," Semenyo said. "The first thing he (Guardiola) said to me when I came was, 'Don't change your game' ... he still wants me to be me, still create a bit of chaos."

When the whistle blew, City supporters belted out ‘Blue Moon’ and roared as Bernardo Silva and John Stones raised the trophy — both men are set to depart when the season ends.

"Being able to lift another trophy at Wembley, where we have played so many times, is such a special feeling, one I never take for granted," Bernardo said. "To do so as captain makes this one of the best days of my career."

Success ended back-to-back final defeats for City over the prior two campaigns. They have now reached the final four years running, with their previous Cup triumph coming in 2023.

Chelsea have dropped four FA Cup finals in a row, matching Leicester’s unwanted streak.

Arsenal remain the competition’s most successful club with 14 titles; Manchester United follow on 13.

Prince William congratulated Guardiola as the manager collected his winners’ medal, then took in the scenes across a jubilant Wembley.

Rumours have mounted that this may be Guardiola’s last season at City, though he has not said whether he will stay or go.