Midfielder Bernardo Silva scored the only goal at Wembley Stadium on Saturday to help defending champions Manchester City reach the final of this season’s Emirates FA Cup at the expense of Chelsea.
The could be a repeat last year’s final between the two Manchester clubs should United beat Championship side Coventry in the other semifinal match at the same venue on Sunday.
Chelsea only have them to blame for the failure to go past Manchester City after forward Nicolas Jackson missed multiple crucial opportunities to score at least one goal in the clash.
The Senegalese’s first chance came in the 29th minute after a through pass from Enzo Fernandez to him, who only had Stefan Ortega to beat. But he instead rounded up the goalkeeper before playing an incomplete pass to Cole Palmer.
Three minutes after the break, Jackson was through on goal from a pass by Conor Gallagher, but his effort inside the box was saved by Ortega. The ball rebounded to Cole Palmer and crossed to Jackson immediately, but he failed to beat Ortega from very close range.
There was a controversial moment in the early minutes of the second half when Palmer’s free-kick right outside the City’s box area struck Jack Grealish’s hand. Although it looked to be out of natural position, the referee decided against awarding it.
City secured the winner in the 84th minute after Jeremy Doku drove the ball from the flank and passed it to Kevin De Bruyne, who laid a pass into the box, but goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic diverted it to Silva’s feet.
The Portuguese wasted no time and immediately fired the ball into the net to send City into the final.
