Chelsea reached the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday, as Enzo Fernandez’s 23rd-minute header settled the semifinal.
Enzo Fernandez made the difference just before the half-hour mark, getting on the end of Pedro Neto’s cross and steering his header into the net. It wasn’t the most spectacular goal you’ll ever see at Wembley, but in a semifinal, nobody’s complaining. That was the 23rd minute, and as it turned out, that was all Chelsea would need.
To be fair to Leeds, they weren’t just there to make up the numbers. Brenden Aaronson got in early and looked like he might trouble Chelsea, but Robert Sanchez got his feet to it and kept the scoreline level — well, in Leeds’ favor at that point. The second half brought more of the same. Anton Stach came off the bench and had a go, then Dominic Calvert-Lewin got his head to one at close range, but somehow steered it straight at Sanchez rather than into the corner. Just one of those days.
Chelsea nearly killed the game off completely when Joao Pedro rattled the post. That would’ve settled the nerves, but the goal just wouldn’t come. Still, the one they had was enough.
There’s a strange story running underneath all of this. Chelsea sacked their manager Liam Rosenior in the build-up to the game, which isn’t exactly ideal preparation for an FA Cup semifinal at Wembley. Calum McFarlane, his assistant, was handed the reins at short notice and kept things together. Credit where it’s due — that’s not an easy situation to walk into, and he got the result. Word is he’ll stay in charge until the summer.
For Leeds, this one will sting. It hadn’t reached an FA Cup final since 1973, and this felt like a real chance to end that run. The opportunities were there — they just didn’t take them. In knockout football, that’s usually what decides it.
Chelsea will face Manchester City in the final on May 16th back at Wembley.
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