- As Blues beat stubborn Leeds 1-0 in Semi-final clash
- Battle Man City on May 16 at Wembley showpiece
Following a hard-fought battle at Wembley on Sunday evening, Manager-less Chelsea are into yet another FA Cup final, their 17th overall and the 13th in the last 30 years.
In earning the right to salvage something from their waning season, the Blues battled past Leeds United in their FA Cup semi-finals encounter, thanks to Enzo Fernandez’s first-half header.
They dominated the first half, when Enzo Fernandez headed them in front, and held firm in the second to set up a heavyweight final against Manchester City on Saturday, May 16, 2026
With the inspiring result, Interim head coach Calum McFarlane can now prepare to lead his side out against the Cityzens in the May showpiece. Interestingly, it is McFarlane, who won a tactical battle against Pep Guardiola at the Etihad in January, who will meet him again in three weeks’ time.
Looking completely revitalised following Liam Rosenior’s midweek dismissal and the return of top-scorer Joao Pedro to the starting line-up, the Blues snatched the lead midway through the first period, just moments after Pedro had smacked the inside of the post.
Pascal Struijk’s error was seized upon and Pedro Neto’s clipped cross set up an easy header for Fernandez in what proved to be the only goal of the tension-soaked game.
However, before the Blues’ solitary match-winning strike, it was Leeds who had the first clear sighting of goal as Robert Sanchez produced a sublime save to deny Brenden Aaronson one on one a quarter of an hour in.
There was a flashpoint shortly afterwards, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, himself the victim of a hair pull against Manchester United recently, controversially escaped a red card after a VAR check despite appearing to yank Marc Cucuralla’s curly locks.
Predictably, Leeds flew out of the blocks in the second half, but Chelsea came through a flurry of chances unscathed, most notably being a fierce drive from Anton Stach that was pushed away by Sanchez and the German’s free-kick that flashed just wide.
In a match that under-fire midfielder, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro made a huge difference, the Blues held on, and Coach McFarlane can now look forward to testing himself against Pep Guardiola for the second time this season in the final.
Meanwhile, Manchester City also had a torrid time on Saturday evening before outlasting Southampton at Wembley Stadium.
The Cityzens’ berth in the final was secured by late goals from Jérémy Doku and Nico González. Indeed, this comeback victory in the semi-final tie saw City advancing to their fourth consecutive FA Cup final, making history in the oldest football competition on earth.
The Football Association Challenge Cup in England, popularly called FA Cup, was established in 1871 and first played during the 1871–72 season, pre-dating national leagues and international matches.
It remains an annual knockout tournament open to professional and semi-professional clubs in England and Wales.
