Football

Chelsea 0-1 Man City: Semenyo Inspires Sky Blues To Claim FA Cup Glory

Published

5 months ago

May 16, 2026

Antoine Semenyo produced one of the great FA Cup final goals with an audacious back-flick that sealed Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

Semenyo illuminated a largely scrappy final late in the second half as he improvised a sublime finish to caress Erling Haaland’s cross into the net.

The Ghana winger’s moment of magic was enough to clinch City’s eighth FA Cup triumph and their second piece of silverware this season after the League Cup final win over Arsenal in March.

Semenyo joins Ricky Villa, Michael Owen, Roberto Di Matteo and Steven Gerrard among the ranks of iconic FA Cup final goalscorers.

Ironically, the 26-year-old – an inspired signing from Bournemouth in the January window – was born just a stone’s throw from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home in west London.

The third FA Cup success of Guardiola’s reign ended City‘s run of two successive defeats in the final against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Guardiola, who also lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2019, has now won 20 trophies in his glittering decade as City manager.

His attention will turn back to City’s slender hopes of making it 21 pieces of silverware with a miracle in the Premier League title race.

City, on a 21-game unbeaten domestic run, will be five points behind leaders Arsenal if the Gunners beat relegated Burnley at home on Monday.

Guardiola’s men can close the gap back to two points with a victory at Bournemouth in their penultimate match of the season on Tuesday.

But Arsenal would still guarantee their first English title since 2004 by winning at Palace on May 24. Ahead of his 24th trip to Wembley with City, Guardiola joked that he was “so disappointed” he has not had a stand named after him at the home of English football.

Whether he will be back with City remain a matter of conjecture. Uncertainty has swirled around Guardiola’s future all season and, with just one year left on his contract, the 55-year-old is yet to give an indication if he plans to stay or go at the end of this term.

If it is about to be the end of an era, Semenyo ensured Guardiola will leave with at least one more golden memory.

Knockout blow

For Chelsea, the loss was the latest blow in another turbulent campaign. Without a win in their last seven league games, they are languishing in ninth place with virtually no chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Under interim boss Calum McFarlane, they produced a battling but ultimately impotent display that underlined why frustrated fans protested against owners BlueCo before kick-off and chanted “we want our Chelsea back”.

With Chelsea content to sit deep in their five-man defence, City dominated possession for long periods of the first half, but couldn’t make the breakthrough.

It was a cagey and often flat occasion, in keeping with two teams who have underachieved this season. Haaland fired wide from an acute angle after stealing possession on the edge of the Chelsea area.

Haaland threatened to prise open Chelsea’s well-drilled rearguard late in the first half, surging onto Marc Guehi’s pass for a stinging strike that Robert Sanchez saved at his near post.

Relying on only occasional counter-attacks, Chelsea felt aggrieved just before the interval when their penalty claim was rejected after Joao Pedro was bundled over by Abdukodir Khusanov.

Semenyo should have broken the deadlock immediately after the break, heading over from six yards after climbing to meet Nico O’Reilly’s cross.

Moises Caicedo’s header was nodded off the line by Rodri after City keeper James Trafford fumbled a corner. But City finally delivered the knockout blow in the 72nd minute.

Haaland made a clever run down the right-hand side of the Chelsea area and cut the ball back to Semenyo, who deftly back-heeled his supreme finish into the far corner from close range.

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Related Topics:Antoine Semenyo Chelsea FA Cup Manchester City

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Football

2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees: Full List Of Contenders Across All Categories

Published

1 month ago

September 8, 2026

AladdynKing

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or gathers pace as shortlists are unveiled across all categories.

The battle for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has officially commenced. Football’s most prestigious individual accolade, celebrating the standout performers of the 2025-26 season, is building towards its marquee evening.

On Tuesday, 8 September, shortlists will be revealed in stages across all primary categories, from the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or to honours for emerging talent and world-class goalkeepers. Clubs and managers are likewise vying for prestigious recognition.

Among the individual awards up for grabs are the Kopa Trophy, presented to the standout young player, the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the top goalkeeper, and the Gerd Muller Trophy, reserved for the campaign’s most prolific finisher.

The staggered release of the nominees marks the opening chapter of the gala. The winners will be formally crowned on 26 October when the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes centre stage in London.

Nominees list: All names category by category

Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club America, Manchester City, and Olympique Lyonnais

Men’s Club of the Year: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo, and PSG

Women’s Coach of the Year: Jonatan Giraldez, Andree Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, Elena Sadiku

Men’s Coach of the Year: Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany, Luis Enrique

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Ayaka Yamashita

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Gregor Kobel, Joan Garcia, Edouard Mendy, Emiliano Martinez, David Raya, Vozinha, Unai Simon, Matvey Safonov

Best Young Female Player: Veerle Buurman, Vicky Lopez, Felicia Schroder, Clara Serrajordi, Lily Yohannes

Best Young Male Player: Kerim Alajbegovic, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsi, Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaire-Emery

Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026: Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Rose Lavelle, Yui Hasegawa, Mapi Leon, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Ewa Pajor, Vivianne Miedema, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Momoko Tanikawa, Wendie Renard, Khadija Shaw, Caroline Weir, Tessa Wullaert

Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembele, Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland, Gabriel, Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Sadio Mane, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappe, Nuno Mendes, Leo Messi, Michael Olise, Joao Neves, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri Hernández, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Vinicius Júnior, Vitinha.

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Football

Vinicius Vows To Deliver Champions League Glory: “We Are Going To Win It”

Published

1 month ago

September 7, 2026

AladdynKing

Vinicius Junior spoke to ‘RM Play’ ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League opener, boldly declaring that they will conquer Europe this season.

Following a two-season drought, Real Madrid have set their sights firmly on the Champions League. Los Blancos kick off their latest European campaign on Tuesday, and Vinicius Jr spoke to ‘RM Play’, the club’s official streaming platform.

The Brazilian forward boldly asserted that they will lift their 16th European crown following two underwhelming campaigns: “Hopefully number 16 arrives. We are ready for it. It is our competition. We haven’t performed well over the last two years. Our first goal is to finish in the top eight. We are always thrilled by the Champions League. This season is going to be different compared to the last two and we are going to win it.”

Vinicius also reflected fondly on his decisive strikes against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in the last two finals: “They are the two most important goals of my life. It goes down in history. Many players score goals, but few in finals. And doing it for the biggest club in the world is something neither the fans nor I will ever forget.”

Finally, he shared his thoughts ahead of the opening clash against Inter: “Whenever the Champions League comes around, it is something different. We are ready for this match against a great side who will demand a lot from us. They are physically very strong and defend with a back five, which usually causes us problems, but the boss has prepared us well. We have a few absences, but we will all go out strong. Hopefully we can build that wonderful connection with the fans in these matches,” he concluded.

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Football

Inter Dealt Dimarco Blow Ahead Of Bernabeu Clash

Published

1 month ago

September 7, 2026

AladdynKing

Inter have travelled to Madrid without Federico Dimarco after the wing-back suffered a mild right knee sprain, dealing a major blow to the ‘Nerazzurri’.

The Champions League is back, and Inter face a formidable opening test as they travel to take on Real Madrid on matchday one of the league phase — a stern challenge made all the more difficult by the absence of a key figure.

That absentee is Federico Dimarco, one of the side’s standout performers and the reigning Serie A ‘MVP’. The wing-back emerged as one of the casualties from their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Napoli.

The Italy international, who provided an assist for Lautaro to break the deadlock, lasted just 62 minutes on the pitch after sustaining a mild sprain in his right knee. Head coach Chivu opted against taking any risks with his fitness, leaving him behind in Milan.

Everything points towards Carlos Augusto deputising on the left flank in his absence. The Brazilian full-back stepped in for his teammate against Napoli, crucially providing the assist for the equaliser to make it 2-2.

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