Chelsea Set Up FA Cup Final Showdown Against Manchester City After Dominant Semi-Final Victory

Chelsea booked their place in the 2026 FA Cup final with a commanding performance against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Goals from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke secured a 2-0 victory for the Blues, setting up a blockbuster final against Manchester City on May 30.

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Enzo Maresca's side controlled the match from the outset, with Cole Palmer returning to the starting lineup after being named among the substitutes in recent league matches. The decisive moment came in the 34th minute when Cucurella capitalized on a defensive error to fire past Leeds goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson.

Leeds, who are pushing for automatic promotion from the Championship, never recovered from that early setback. Madueke doubled Chelsea's advantage midway through the second half with a clinical finish after a swift counter-attack. The result extends Chelsea's impressive run of form across all competitions.

"The players showed great character and hunger to reach the final," said Maresca. "We know Manchester City will be a different challenge, but this group has belief in their abilities." City secured their final spot with a hard-fought victory over Southampton earlier this week, reaching their fourth consecutive FA Cup final.

Chelsea will aim to win their first major trophy under Maresca's leadership, while City seek to maintain their dominance in the competition, having won the last three editions.