Manchester City vs Chelsea 1-0: FA Cup semifinal – as it happened
Follow our football updates as Manchester City beat Chelsea at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final.
- Holders Manchester City will get a chance to defend their Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) title after beating Chelsea 1-0 in the first semifinal on Saturday.
- Bernardo Silva scored the game’s only goal in the 84th minute.
- Holders Manchester City will get a chance to defend their Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) title after beating Chelsea 1-0 in the first semifinal on Saturday.
- Bernardo Silva scored the game’s only goal in the 84th minute.
- Manchester City are now unbeaten in 29 matches in all competitions, the longest run in the club’s history (23 wins, six losses).
- England’s second FA Cup semifinal will be played on Sunday between Coventry and Manchester United. Kick-off is at 14:30 GMT.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Goodbye for now!
Manchester City have booked their place in a second consecutive FA Cup final after finding a late winner against Chelsea.
It was another devastating day at Wembley for Mauricio Pochettino as his side missed numerous opportunities to knock out the defending champions.
But City march on in their quest for an eighth FA Cup and will face either Coventry City or Manchester United in the final.
Thanks for joining us for this match, and do stay with Al Jazeera sport for more coverage over the weekend.
Goodbye!
Who will face City in the final?
It’s a busy weekend at Wembley, with tomorrow’s second FA Cup semifinal taking place at 14:30 GMT.
Championship side Coventry City will face Manchester United, with both teams searching for a place in the final against Manchester City.
If the Red Devils triumph, they will set up a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final and another mouthwatering Manchester derby.
But Coventry have pulled off some shocks to reach this stage and will be hoping to upset the odds in London.
This time tomorrow. 𩵠pic.twitter.com/9vnEOopzX5
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) April 20, 2024
Pep Guardiola shared a moment with his former player, Cole Palmer at the full-time whistle#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kkv7hC5wRw
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 20, 2024
‘It is unacceptable’
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been speaking after the match, and he has some gripes.
His main point of frustration is the scheduling of this game on a Saturday, just days after a midweek Champions League fixture.
“It is unacceptable,” he says.
“It is impossible for the health of the players; it’s not normal. Because I won I have the courage to tell you, but this is unacceptable – there were 120 minutes [in midweek].
“We want to play football. We love to play football. But it is too much.”
Back again 💪@ManCity have booked their spot in the 2024 #EmiratesFACup Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/T5opldeEsD
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 20, 2024
‘It was a frustrating week for us’
The match winner, Bernardo Silva, has been speaking to the media on the pitch:
“I’m very happy after. It was a very frustrating week for all of us, for me personally. But the good thing if you play at Man City you play every three days, you have a chance for revenge and to put things right. Today, we tried to do that although we were very tired.”
He also discussed his winning goal:
“It’s the usual Kevin De Bruyne movement inbetween the centre back and the fullback. Jeremy Doku found the right timing to put the ball there. Then you try to put numbers in the box to increase the chances of scoring. I was lucky the ball dropped to me.”
Defeat in the semi-final. ⏹️#CFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/AchrsQgl4P
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 20, 2024
City march on
It was no means vintage Manchester City, but the defending champions have done enough to reach yet another final.
Bernardo Silva’s late goal proved the difference on the day, as City bounced back from midweek European disappointment.
As for Chelsea it’s another miserable day at Wembley. They’ve lost twice at the national stadium this season, missing countless opportunities.
It’s a trophy-less season for the West London side.
FULL-TIME | #FACup FINALISTS!! 🙌
🩵 1-0 🔵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/Hmjiuhd8tF
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 20, 2024
Full time
Manchester City are in the FA Cup final!
Full time: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
Mudryk wastes a free kick
Walker goes shoulder to shoulder with Mudryk and the City captain concedes a free kick on the left-hand side.
The Ukrainian gets up to take the free kick and it’s a woeful effort, with the ball evading everybody.
90+8 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
Time running out for Chelsea
De Bruyne is awarded player of the match, and he’s heading straight to the corner flag after picking up the ball from Doku following a City counter.
Chelsea haven’t created a chance in added time. Can they find one more opportunity?
90+7 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
City showing good game management
City are playing down the clock, keeping the ball and taking their time at any set pieces.
Four minutes to go…
90+4 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
Pochettino shows the strain of management
Chilwell, Murdyk and Sterling have all looked lively since coming on. But is it too late for Chelsea?
Some poor play at the back from the Londoners allows De Bruyne to gather the ball in the middle of the pitch. He strikes an effort at goal, but it deflects away off a Chelsea defender.
Pochettino looks crestfallen on the touchline. He knows how many good chances his side have had today.
90+3 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
Eight minutes added on
A huge roar from the Chelsea end. Eight minutes to go.
90 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
Changes for both sides
City haven’t looked themselves all day, but that was typical Bernardo Silva, showing tremendous composure to finish.
Both sides make some changes.
Oscar Bobb is on for City, replacing Alvarez.
For Cheslea, Ben Chilwell comes on for Cucurella, with Raheem Sterling replacing Fernandez.
89 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
GOAL! Bernardo Silva breaks the deadlock!
Less than 10 minutes to go and Silva has scored!
Doku makes a run down the left and finds De Bruyne at the byline. The Belgian plays a low cross across the face of goal, with the ball deflecting off the foot of Petrovic.
It falls to Silva who shows terrific composure to side-foot the ball home.
84 mins: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
Foden in the book
City enjoy a long period of possession on the edge of the Chelsea box.
Alvarez eventually takes the plunge and strikes an effort at goal, but his shot is high and wide of the Chelsea goal.
From the resulting goal kick, Foden picks up a yellow card for complaining about time wasting.
83 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Two changes for Chelsea
Off: Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto
On: Mykhailo Mudryk, Axel Disasi
80 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Ortega down hurt
It’s a corner for Chelsea after Akanji blocks a cross from Gusto.
Ortega becomes the latest player down injured, suffering from a calf issue. He finally gets back to his feet and the corner can be taken.
Gallagher swings in the ball from the right, but Dias gets a head to it and clears the danger.
78 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Semifinal remains deadlocked
Gusto is back on the pitch and play continues.
There are just over 15 minutes of normal time remaining. It’s hard to call which way this one will go. Both sides are creating chances, but the deadlock is proving difficult to break.
74 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
15 minutes to go at Wembley ⏱️
🩵 0-0 🔵 #ManCity | #FACup pic.twitter.com/t1NXmfNOg9
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 20, 2024
Gusto down injured
Doku has looked lively since coming on, causing Chelsea problems down the left. The winger wins a corner after another surging run.
Gusto drops to the ground before the set piece is taken, with the Chelsea medical staff running on to assist him.
He slowly gets back to his feet and should be able to continue.
72 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Chances at either end
Palmer does brilliantly to break away in midfield, finding Caicedo on the right.
The Chelsea man is out on his own, but can’t get the ball out of his feet when it matters. His effort on goal is tame and wide.
The London side keep finding themselves in excellent positions, but their players haven’t got the confidence to finish.
At the other end, Doku does well to stay on his feet in the box and get a shot away, which is well saved by Petrovic.
De Bruyne then fires wide from just inside the penalty area. Chances are coming at either end.
70 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Doku on for Grealish
Grealish can’t continue and limps off to be replaced by Doku.
The England midfielder is still furious and has plenty to say to the fourth official as he leaves the field.
65 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Grealish caught by Caicedo
Grealish is down injured after being caught on his left knee by Caicedo. It was a nasty-looking challenge from the Chelsea man, who clumsily followed through after clearing the ball.
Grealish is furious, asking the referee to watch a replay.
Jeremy Doku is warming up on the touchline.
64 mins: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea