Report

Man City edge past Chelsea to book FA Cup final spot

20 Apr 2024
Silva, Man City

Late Bernardo Silva goal earns holders a 1-0 victory at Wembley to keep hopes of a double alive

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Manchester City secured their spot in the FA Cup final after Bernardo Silva's late winner gave them a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.

The Portuguese midfielder scored from close range with only six minutes remaining to earn the victory for Man City after Chelsea failed to capitalise on a number of gilt-edged opportunities.

Man City will face either Manchester United or Coventry City, who play on Sunday, when they return to Wembley for the final on Saturday 25 May.

How the match unfolded

Erling Haaland was the main absentee for Man City, who made three changes from their midweek defeat to Real Madrid, as Julian Alvarez, John Stones and Nathan Ake replaced Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Haaland.

Chelsea made one change from their 6-0 win over Everton, with Enzo Fernandez coming in for Mykhailo Mudryk.

Rodri had a good chance to score after 11 minutes with a glancing header, but Djordje Petrovic denied him with a terrific save.

Phil Foden was then played through on goal four minutes later and managed to take the ball around Petrovic, but his attempt from an acute angle was cleared away by Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea began to grow into the contest and Nicolas Jackson had a similar chance to Foden after rounding Stefan Ortega, but the striker failed to get a shot away.

Cole Palmer went close to scoring in the 37th minute with a curling effort at goal, but Ortega was equal to the shot.

Jackson had two chances in quick succession at the start of the second half to break the deadlock, but both efforts from close range were comfortably saved by Ortega.

Second-half substitute Jeremy Doku injected fresh impetus for City, with the Belgian forcing another save from Petrovic.

The game's decisive moment came through Silva, who, after his missed spot-kick in City's UEFA Champions League penalty shootout exit to Real Madrid in midweek, smashed the ball into the bottom-right corner after Kevin De Bruyne's low cross was deflected into the path of the Portuguese midfielder.

Silva, Man City

It's the third time that City have reached the FA Cup final in consecutive years while Chelsea suffered their 11th elimination from the FA Cup at the semi-final stage, the third-most in the competition’s history after Everton and Spurs, with 13 and 12 respectively.

Pep Guardiola's side are back in Premier League action on Thursday, when they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion, while Chelsea visit Arsenal on Tuesday for a London derby.

 

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