Manchester City escaped Wembley Stadium with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Chelsea, securing their place in the FA Cup final for the second year running.

This match proved another heartbreaker for Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose side squandered numerous chances to topple the defending champions. City will now face either Coventry City or Manchester United in the final, keeping their hopes of a domestic double alive.

Bernardo Silva, whose penalty miss in the midweek Champions League shootout against Real Madrid was a low point, emerged as the hero for City. His goal was a stark contrast to his earlier disappointment, a perfect example of athletic redemption.

A Scrappy Fight for City

City’s performance was far from polished. They battled valiantly to maintain their slim chances of salvaging silverware this season. The dream of a treble of trebles may have vanished, but the double-double remained a possibility.

Chelsea looked dangerous, creating several clear-cut opportunities, particularly through Nicolas Jackson. They arguably controlled the second half.

City’s lack of control was evident. They appeared sluggish and error-prone, likely a consequence of the grueling Champions League encounter just days earlier. Coach Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration publicly about the tight turnaround between matches.

Guardiola admitted he wasn’t sure how City managed to hold on. However, he praised his team’s resilience, calling it one of his most impressive victories in the face of adversity. Ultimately, City emerged victorious because, unlike Chelsea, they capitalized on their limited opportunities. The winning goal came in the 84th minute, with Kevin De Bruyne heavily involved in the build-up. While De Bruyne’s overall performance mirrored City’s – full of effort but lacking precision – he ultimately played a key role in the decisive moment.

Watch the match highlights below;