Antoine Semenyo produced one of the great FA Cup final goals with an audacious back-flick that sealed Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, keeping their domestic treble dream alive.

Semenyo’s Goal Secures City’s Eighth FA Cup Title

The Ghanaian winger illuminated a largely scrappy final late in the second half as he improvised a sublime finish to caress Erling Haaland’s cross into the net. Semenyo’s moment of magic was enough to clinch City’s eighth FA Cup triumph, and their second piece of silverware this season after the League Cup final win over Arsenal in March.

Semenyo joins Ricky Villa. Michael Owen. Roberto Di Matteo. And Steven Gerrard among the ranks of iconic FA Cup final goalscorers. The 26-year-old – an inspired signing from Bournemouth in the January window, was born just a stone’s throw from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home in west London.

Guardiola’s Third FA Cup Win

The third FA Cup success of Pep Guardiola’s reign ended City’s run of two successive defeats in the final against Crystal Palace and Manchester United — Guardiola, who also lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2019, has now won 20 trophies in his glittering decade as City manager.

His attention will now turn back to City’s slender hopes of making it 21 pieces of silverware with a miracle in the Premier League title race. City, on a 21-game unbeaten domestic run, will be five points behind leaders Arsenal, if the Gunners beat relegated Burnley at home on Monday.

City’s Road to the Final

Manchester City reached the FA Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 win over Championship side Southampton in the semi-final. Nico Gonzalez scored a late winner in the 87th minute after Jeremy Doku had equalized for City. Southampton had taken the lead through Finn Azaz’s stunning 79th-minute strike.

City will now face the winner of Sunday’s semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United in the May 16 final at Wembley. Their win over Southampton marks their fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance, a feat not achieved before in the competition’s history.