In a final that struggled to find rhythm for long periods, Semenyo produced a moment fans will remember for years.
Late in the second half, the Ghanaian winger met a dangerous cross from Erling Haaland with an audacious flick that floated beautifully past the Chelsea goalkeeper and into the net.
The spectacular finish handed City their eighth FA Cup title and their second domestic trophy of the season following their League Cup triumph earlier this year.
Semenyo’s goal immediately entered the conversation among the greatest FA Cup final strikes, alongside famous efforts from legends such as Ricky Villa, Michael Owen, Roberto Di Matteo and Steven Gerrard.
The moment carried extra meaning for Semenyo, who was born close to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium in west London. Signed from Bournemouth during the January transfer window, the 26-year-old has quickly become one of City’s most important attacking players.
For City manager Pep Guardiola, the victory marked another milestone in a remarkable spell at the club. It was his third FA Cup success after previous wins in 2019 and 2023, while also becoming the 20th trophy of his decade-long reign at Manchester City.
The win also ended City’s recent disappointment in the competition after back-to-back final defeats against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Despite lifting another trophy, Guardiola’s side still faces a difficult task in the Premier League title race. City remain behind league leaders Arsenal, although they still have matches left that could keep their hopes alive until the final week of the season.
Before the match, Guardiola joked about not having a stand named after him at Wembley despite his many appearances there with City. However, questions over his future continue, with the Spanish coach yet to reveal whether he will stay beyond this season as his contract enters its final year.
If Guardiola is nearing the end of his time at City, Semenyo’s unforgettable goal ensured the manager added another special memory to his successful era.
For Chelsea, the defeat added more disappointment to an already difficult campaign. The London club remains stuck in ninth place in the Premier League and faces an uphill battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Under interim manager Calum McFarlane, Chelsea showed determination but struggled to create clear chances in attack.
Frustration among supporters was also visible before kick-off, with fans protesting against the club’s owners BlueCo and chanting for the return of what they called the “real Chelsea”.
In the end, one brilliant touch from Semenyo proved enough to separate the two sides on English football’s biggest domestic stage.
