Semenyo magic helps Man City to win FA Cup glory over Chelsea

Antoine Semenyo produced a moment of individual brilliance to hand Manchester City the FA Cup on Saturday, a 1-0 victory over Chelsea completing an English cup double for Pep Guardiola's side.

The Ghana forward received an Erling Haaland cross in the 72nd minute, turned sharply and back-heeled the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to delight City supporters at Wembley.

"Everything happened so fast to be honest," said Semenyo, who joined City from Bournemouth in January. "It came straight to me and I had to improvise as quickly as I can. I have never competed for trophies like this before, so everything is new to me."

The goal jolted what had been a cautious, even contest into life. City came close to adding more, with Rayan Cherki forcing a fine save from Sanchez and Matheus Nunes striking the post in the closing stages.

Captain Bernardo Silva, departing at the end of the season, lifted the trophy alongside fellow outgoing defender John Stones after receiving it from Prince William. Silva called the win very special and said the title race remains alive. City trail league leaders Arsenal by two points with two games to play.

Semenyo, meanwhile, had his sights set firmly on Tuesday's Premier League fixture against Bournemouth. "I don't think there will be much celebration tonight," he said.

It was City's eighth FA Cup title and followed their League Cup triumph in March, potentially the final honours of Guardiola's decade-long reign at the club.

For Chelsea, the defeat extended a miserable run — a seventh consecutive domestic cup final loss and their fourth in the FA Cup. Enzo Fernandez, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap all wasted chances as the London club failed to find the target throughout.

Chelsea's turbulent season has left their hopes of European football next season hanging by a thread. Their American BlueCo owners are searching for a permanent manager after sacking Liam Rosenior, who lasted less than four months following Enzo Maresca's departure in January, with the club having slipped to ninth in the Premier League.