Chelsea defeat Leeds to set up FA Cup Final with Manchester City

Chelsea 1 - 0 Leeds

April 26, 2026

167d ago

Against a backdrop of chaos off the pitch, Chelsea delivered a masterclass in resilience on it. The Blues secured a tense 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the second FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, punching their ticket to the 2026 final. Playing under interim manager Calum McFarlane – following the dramatic dismissal of Liam Rosenior just days ago – Chelsea looked anything but a side in crisis. Early Strike Settles Nerves The only goal of the game arrived in the 23rd minute. Portuguese winger Pedro Neto , causing havoc down the right flank, whipped in a devilish cross toward the penalty spot. Rising above a cluster of white shirts, Argentine World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez powered a bullet header past Leeds keeper Illan Meslier and into the bottom corner. It was Fernandez’s fifth goal of the competition and his most important yet. "We knew it would be a war today," Fernandez said post-match. "The week was very difficult for us, but we play for this badge. We are Chelsea. We go to the final." Grit and a Sanchez Special Leeds, desperate to reach their first FA Cup final since 1973, threw everything at Chelsea in the second half. Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville both went close as Daniel Farke’s side pinned the Blues deep. But the defining moment of the half came in the 78th minute. Leeds defender Pascal Struijk rose unmarked to meet a corner, only to see Chelsea shot-stopper Robert Sanchez produce a stunning one-handed reflex save – pushing the ball onto the crossbar and away to safety. "It's the best save I've seen live," McFarlane said. "He kept us in the final." Chelsea held on through eight minutes of stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among their supporters at the final whistle. McFarlane’s Emotional Reaction Interim boss McFarlane, visibly emotional, dedicated the win to the club’s fans. "I told the lads: forget the noise. Only Wembley matters," he said. "They gave me everything. We aren't done yet. We want that trophy." What’s Next Chelsea will face Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday, May 16, at Wembley Stadium. It will be Chelsea’s first final since winning the competition in 2018 and a chance to salvage a turbulent season with a ninth FA Cup title. For Leeds, the heartbreak continues – another semi-final defeat extending their 53-year wait for a final appearance.

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