Manchester City Reach FA Cup Final After Late Comeback — Chelsea Face Leeds at Wembley Today
Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Southampton at Wembley on Saturday, while Chelsea and Leeds United meet this afternoon in the second semi-final — with a place in the 16 May showpiece at stake.
Background
The FA Cup semi-finals are being played across the weekend at Wembley Stadium, with the final scheduled for Saturday 16 May 2026. Manchester City are making their fourth consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance, while Chelsea — who beat Port Vale 7-0 in the quarter-finals — face a Leeds United side that reached the last four via a penalty shootout win over West Ham United.
Key Developments
In Saturday's first semi-final, Southampton took a shock lead through Finn Azaz in the 79th minute, threatening one of the upsets of the season. However, Manchester City responded with characteristic resilience, with Jeremy Doku equalising in the 82nd minute before Nico Gonzalez struck the winner in the 87th minute to send City to the final.
Today's second semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United kicks off at 3pm at Wembley. Chelsea have a formidable record against Leeds in the FA Cup, having progressed in all six previous ties between the clubs — including the famous 1970 FA Cup final, which Chelsea won after a replay. Leeds, however, will be buoyed by their penalty shootout heroics against West Ham and will be determined to end that record.
Meanwhile, in the Premier League on Saturday, Arsenal beat Newcastle United 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table, with the Gunners now on 73 points — three ahead of Manchester City. Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Anfield, with goals from Alexander Isak, Andrew Robertson, and Florian Wirtz. Tottenham Hotspur beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0, and West Ham defeated Everton 2-1.
Why It Matters
The FA Cup remains one of the most prestigious domestic cup competitions in world football, and a Wembley final appearance is a significant prize for any club. For Manchester City, the final represents another opportunity to add to their already remarkable trophy haul. For Chelsea or Leeds, it would be a major achievement in what has been a competitive season.
What's Next
The FA Cup final takes place on Saturday 16 May 2026 at Wembley Stadium. Manchester City will await the winner of today's Chelsea vs Leeds semi-final. In the Premier League, Manchester United host Brentford on Monday evening.
