From non-league to Wembley hero: Semenyo sinks Chelsea in FA Cup final
From non-league to Wembley hero: Semenyo sinks Chelsea in FA Cup final
Antoine Semenyo's late flick seals Manchester City's FA Cup final win over Chelsea, crowning a rise from non-league to Wembley glory.
Manchester City carved out a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley thanks to Antoine Semenyo's 72nd-minute flicked finish, a goal that will be etched in FA Cup folklore.
Eight years ago he was on loan at non-league Bath City, and this season he joined City from Bournemouth in January for £62.5m. That journey from the fringes of English football to Wembley glory underlined why City's coach Pep Guardiola shelled out big money for him.
"It happened so fast... I have never competed for trophies like this before, so everything is new to me. Hopefully, we can finish the job off. It is a good finish, I can't lie," Semenyo said after the final whistle. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "That, for me, is one of the goals of the season."
Guardiola had told Semenyo to "create chaos" during training, a line that underscored City's plan to disrupt Chelsea's build-up. The win marks City's 16th major trophy under Guardiola and adds to the 20 pieces of silverware Guardiola has collected in his decade at the club.
With the league title still within reach, City briefly paused celebrations to focus on the title race, as some outlets noted that celebrations are on hold until the job in the league is secure. Barney Ronay of The Guardian later argued this could be Guardiola's Wembley moment, with Semenyo proving a fitting match-winner.
