- By Vishal Pushkar
- Sun, 21 Apr 2024 01:36 PM (IST)
- Source:Reuters
Defending champions Manchester City secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea in an enthralling FA Cup semi-final clash at Wembley on Saturday. The decisive goal came late in the game, with Bernardo Silva finding the back of the net in the 84th minute.
The goal came after Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic parried a shot from former Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, allowing Silva to calmly sidefoot the ball home.
With this win, Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup final, where they will face the winner of the semi-final clash between Manchester United and second-tier Coventry City, scheduled for Sunday. The final is set to take place on May 25.
The victory provided some consolation for Pep Guardiola's side, who were recently eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid in a tense penalty shootout.
Silva, who missed a penalty in the shootout against Real, said he was: "Very happy after a very frustrating week for all of us, for me personally.
"The good thing is in football, if you play at Man City you play every three days, so after two to three days, you have a chance for a bit of revenge and to put things right."
City are still on for a double, standing two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea, whose last visit to Wembley ended in League Cup final defeat by a late Liverpool goal in extra time two months ago, squandered some of the best chances.
Senegalese Nicolas Jackson was particularly profligate.
He took the first shot on target in the eighth minute but it was easily collected by Stefan Ortega in the City goal.
Early in the second half, Jackson had two chances to put the ball away but Ortega intercepted both.
There were also opportunities for 21-year-old former City forward Cole Palmer, who scored four goals against Everton in the league last Monday, and for Noni Madueke.
A last-gasp free kick from substitute Mykhailo Mudryk sailed over the bar, summing up a miserable afternoon for Chelsea and their manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea have now been eliminated from six of their last eight FA Cup ties against Manchester City, including in the third round last season.