Man City 1-0 Chelsea - Player Ratings, Match Report, and FA Cup Final 2026 Highlights

Man City 1-0 Chelsea - Player Ratings, Match Report, and FA Cup Final 2026 Highlights

Manchester City are crowned FA Cup champions yet again under Pep Guardiola, as they narrowly beat Chelsea 1-0.

Antoine Semenyo's goal was all that split the two sides, with a skillful flick the goal to bring City their second trophy of the season.

Chelsea had a few big chances, particullarly through Enzo Fernandez, however they couldn't find the back of the net.

Match Highlights

Chelsea vs Manchester City as it Happened

The match started frantically, with neither side managing to get a hold of the game, exactly what you would expect in an FA Cup final.

City had large amounts of the ball early as Chelsea wanted to sit in and hit City on the break. Chelsea couldn't manage to find any rhythm with the ball as City was on the them quickly every time.

After a period of City build up, Haaland had the ball in the back of the net, however Nunes made his run to early and was caught offside, keeping the score level.

Joao Pedro was the bright spark for Chelsea in the first half. He was leading the counter attacks and found himself in the opposition box on multiple occasions, but he couldn't manage to make any of these early opportunities count.

Pedro goes down asking for a penalty but the referee waves play on 👀

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 16, 2026

Both Enzo and Cucurella found themselves in the book in the first half, after two quickfire challenges gaining them a yellow card each.

Haaland had a few opportunities but Sanchez stood tall and kept the ball out of the Chelsea net. Other than this, neither side really created many chances on goal in the first half, with it all to play for in the second half.

The second half at Wembley was where the game really came alive and in truth, Manchester City FC completely took control of the final after the break. Chelsea had actually defended fairly well in the first half and looked dangerous in transition a couple of times, but once City started moving the ball quicker, the pressure became relentless.

Pep Guardiola’s side came out with real intensity and Chelsea struggled badly to get out of their own half. The midfield battle completely swung in City’s favour and every attack started to feel dangerous. Jeremy Doku kept dragging Chelsea’s defenders all over the place and eventually the breakthrough came.

Antoine Semenyo was the man who finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute and honestly, it had been coming. The forward reacted quickest inside the box and slotted a lovely flick past the goalkeeper to send the City end into chaos.

Semenyo with a stunning finish to give Manchester City the lead at Wembley 🔥

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 16, 2026

A big chance fell at the other end for Enzo almost instantly, but he couldn't keep it under the crossbar. Probably Chelsea's best chance of the game.

City had a few big chances from this moment until the end, but a mixture between poor finishing and a strong goalkeeping performance from the Chelsea keeper kept the score at 1-0 until the end.

The frustrating thing for Chelsea fans was how flat the side looked once they went behind. There was no real urgency until the final few minutes and by then City were fully in control of the tempo.

For Guardiola, it is another trophy and another huge Wembley performance from his side. For Chelsea, though, this will sting because they just never properly got going in that second half.

Rodri and Reijnders run onto the pitch to celebrate the trophy with the City fans 🏆

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 16, 2026

Chelsea Player Ratings

GK - Robert Sánchez - 7/10

Made a few big saves throughout the match... kept the score at only 1-0.

RWB - Malo Gusto - 6/10

Nothing too special to rave about, was average throughout.

CB - Wesley Fofana - 6.5/10

Was solid at the back for the most part throughout the match.

CB - Levi Colwill - 6.5/10

Same as his partner.

CB - Jorrel Hato - 6/10

Gave the ball away too much throughout, not his best performance in a Chelsea shirt at all.

LWB - Marc Cucurella - 6/10

Got up and down the touchline well, however he couldn't get anything going throughout the match.

CM - Reece James - 7/10

Was solid in the midfield yet again. Didn't manage 90 minutes yet he was probably Chelsea's best player of the match today.

CM - Moisés Caicedo - 6/10

Not his best game. Broke up play but gave the ball away a few times and was caught on the ball by the relentless City press.

AM - Cole Palmer - 5/10

These are the games that you need your superstars to turn up in... he really didn't. Another match this season where Cole Palmer failed to turn up and be the player he once was, poor once again.

AM - Enzo Fernández - 7/10

Could've brought Chelsea level, however throughout the match he was finding Joao Pedro with strong effect and brought Chelsea pushing forward.

ST - João Pedro - 6.5/10

Had a few big chances which he should have really done better with. Was Chelsea's bright spark in attack but needed to do better in the final third in such a big game with fine margins.

Sub 1 - Pedro Neto - 6/10

Sub 2 - Liam Delap - 5/10

Sub 3 - Alejandro Garnacho - 5/10

Manchester City Player Ratings

GK - James Trafford - 6/10

Didn't have much to do throughout the game but was there when he was needed.

RB - Matheus Nunes - 7/10

Great defensively and got forward when needed, could've done with a better final ball.

CB - Abdukodir Khusanov - 7/10

Potential penalty shout from Chelsea fans but not from me. He defended well throughout and helped his team keep a clean sheet.

CB - Marc Guehi - 7.5/10

Fantastic performance. He really is so solid at the back, cool as you like and almost always wins the ball back. What an asset for Pep.

LB - Nico O'Reilly - 7/10

As always, he got up and down the pitch and put in a good performance at both ends.

CM - Rodri - 7/10

First game back from injury, back into the starting XI. He managed 65 minutes and was his usual self through the game, looked solid.

CM - Bernardo Silva - 6.5/10

A final FA Cup final for Bernardo, and a trophy to leave with. Not his best game, but he put in a decent performance in the midfield against a strong Chelsea midfield.

RM - Antoine Semenyo - 8/10

The difference maker. A fantastic goal from a great player. Was a threat throughout the match, constantly putting the Chelsea defence under pressure, an all around strong performance.

AM - Omar Marmoush - 5/10

Didn't quite work out for him today, subbed at half time as well. Not a great showing from Omar.

LM - Jérémy Doku - 7/10

Had the Chelsea players on strings at times, just as he always does. A solid game with any game defining moments.

ST - Erling Haaland - 7/10

He put in a decent shift throughout the match and managed to get the assist for the winner. He would have loved to finally score in a final, however today wasn't his moment.

Sub 1 - Rayan Cherki - 7/10

A huge threat as always. Could have been a bit more selfless in moments and found a teammate, however he always backs himself as he should.

Sub 2 - Mateo Kovacic - 6.5/10

Put in a solid performance off the bench, did a good job against Chelsea's midfield.

Man Of the Match - Antoine Semenyo

Caused problems all day, and obviously scored the beauty to give City the breakthrough and eventually win them the game. A deserved man of the match performance.

“Whatever happens in your life, it doesn’t mean it’s the end”

Antoine Semenyo reflects on going from Non-League to winning the FA Cup 🙌

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 16, 2026

Bad Day at The Office - Cole Palmer

You need your best player to turn up in an FA Cup final, but he didn't yet again this season. Serious questions need to be asked about this lad. He hasn't performed at his best in a while.

Cole Palmer at full time. 📸 pic.twitter.com/YoPQ0ySddX

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 16, 2026