LONDON: Crisis-hit Chelsea beat Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley on Sunday to reach the FA Cup final, a first-half goal from Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez earning them a clash with Manchester City in the showpiece match next month.

Fernandez slipped between defenders to nod home a cross from Portugal winger Pedro Neto in the 23rd minute of the semi-final.

Eight-times winners Chelsea, who sacked coach Liam Rosenior on Wednesday after five Premier League defeats in a row, dominated the first half but had to rely on Robert Sanchez to keep Leeds at bay. He pulled off fine saves in each half from Brenden Aaronson and Anton Stach.

Chelsea coach Calum McFarlane, who took charge of Sunday’s game, will lead the Blues in the Cup final on May 16.

Eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea are into the final for the 17th time in their history and the first since losing to Liverpool in the 2022 showpiece.

If Chelsea can beat City at Wembley, the inexperienced McFarlane would become one of the most unlikely FA Cup-winning managers after stepping up from his role with the club’s Under-21 squad to assist Rosenior.

It was a missed opportunity for Leeds, who were playing in their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 and haven’t made the final for 53 years.

Brenden Aaronson wasted a golden opportunity to put Leeds ahead in the 15th minute, racing clean through on goal after Trevoh Chalobah’s slip but failing to produce the accuracy to beat Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea responded to that scare by missing a good chance of their own, Joao Pedro drilling a low strike against the near post from close-range. But Fernandez eased the anxiety around Chelsea with his 23rd-minute opener.

It was Chelsea’s first goal for nearly 300 minutes since they netted against third tier Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-final. Daniel Farke’s side improved after their tepid first half but Sanchez kept the Blues in the lead as he denied Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Tempers were flaring but it was Chelsea kept their cool to close out a win that restored a modicum of pride after the Rosenior debacle.

GUARDIOLA HAILS ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ CITY

On Saturday, City kept their bid for domestic treble alive as they downed Southampton 2-1,becoming the first side to ever reach four consecutive FA Cup finals.

Saints were heading towards their first final in 23 years when Finn Azaz’s brilliant finish put the Championship side in front 11 minutes from time.

City, though, hit back immediately through Jeremy Doku before Nico Gonzalez’s sensational strike edged the semi-final 2-1.

Guardiola’s men lifted the League Cup last month and are locked in a tight battle for the Premier League title with Arsenal.

“No team has made four finals in a row. It’s extraordinary and hopefully we can arrive with a good momentum,” said Guardiola.

The City manager’s decision to make eight changes from the side that beat Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday looked misguided as Southampton enjoyed the better of the first half.

But Guardiola’s side improved markedly after the break and were aided by the introduction of Doku, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva off the bench.

“It was difficult but the wingers (Doku and Savinho) when they came in changed the pace,” added Guardiola. “The first time they crossed the halfway line they made a fantastic goal.”

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026