City produce stunning comeback at Chelsea to reach FA Cup final

In partnership with

Manchester City Women

·10 mai 2026

City produce stunning comeback at Chelsea to reach FA Cup final

City produced a phenomenal comeback to beat Chelsea 3-2 after extra-time and reach the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final.

Efforts either side of half-time from Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr at Stamford Bridge gave the hosts a commanding two-goal lead and looked set to send Sonia Bompastor’s team to Wembley’s showpiece against Brighton.

Vidéos OneFootball

But strikes from Mary Fowler and Bunny Shaw in the final five minutes dramatically levelled for the visitors and sent the thrilling tie to extra-time.

In the additional period, the Jamaican then guided a brilliant header past Hannah Hampton to flip the semi-final on its head and book the newly crowned Barclays Women’s Super League champions’ place in the final.

WHAT HAPPENED

City arrived in London four days after our status as 2026 Barclays Women’s Super League champions was confirmed – but attentions turned to FA Cup matters in the capital.

The Blues, aiming to reaching our first final in the competition since 2022, had early work to do, however, when Erin Cuthbert’s drive from the edge of the area took a fortuitous deflection – sending the ball past a helpless Khiara Keating – to open the scoring for Chelsea.

Undeterred, the visitors immediately went on the hunt for an equaliser with Lauren Hemp curling inches wide before Shaw came close when her volley flew over the bar from close range.

City then finished the half strongly and would have been level had it not been for a fantastic Hampton save, who prevented Laura Blindkilde Brown’s looping attempt from finding the top corner.

But the visitors’ task was made harder 15 minutes after the break when Lauren James’ cross was fumbled Keating, with Kerr showing her poacher’s instinct to head home.

That looked set to win the tie, but Fowler’s fizzed strike gave the Blues a lifeline on 85, before Shaw euphorically equalised in stoppage time with a smart effort on the turn to force extra-time.

With the wind in our sails, City relentlessly pressed the hosts from the start of the additional 30 minutes and carved out a number of openings.

That saw Yui Hasegawa retrieve the ball high up the field and cross for the Jamaican to direct the ball past Hampton to give Jeglertz’s team the lead for the first time in the semi-final.

A Chelsea onslaught followed in the closing stages of extra-time and Keating made a world class save to tip Sjoeke Nusken’s header onto the bar before we cleared our lines.

And with that, a five-goal cup classic ended in City’s favour as we reached Wembley for the first time in five years.

DEFENSIVE DUTIES

Alex Greenwood and Jade Rose were central to City’s success in the capital.

After an early set-back with Cuthbert’s opener flicking off the defender, Rose delivered yet another masterful display at the heart of City’s defence.

Dominant in the air, composed on the ball and an educated reading of the game -her display was epitomised by the fantastic tackle she produced to stop Alyssa Thompson from skipping into the six-yard box on the half an hour mark.

Greenwood, once again, led by example and was immense in extra time, winning every aerial duel and keeping her backline organised in the heat of battle.

It wasn’t pretty, but it doesn’t matter - City got the job done.

FIGHT ‘TIL THE END

City have shown our ability to respond in the face of adversity all season and our determination to get back into the game against Chelsea was another reflection of this.

Being two goals down to the FA Cup holders away from home is one of world football’s steepest tasks – especially with five minutes remaining – but the Blues fought tirelessly for a route back into the tie and deservedly found it thanks to Fowler’s and Shaw’s strikes.

Then, we carried our momentum into extra-time and flipped the tie on its head with the Jamaican’s header booking our spot at Wembley.

WEMBLEY BOUND

For the first time in four years, City are on our way to Wembley!

Not since the 2022 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea have we played at the national stadium.

But after the rollercoaster afternoon at Stamford Bridge - it will be Jeglertz’s side who face Brighton for the major honour this term.

HOW WE LINED UP

City XI: Keating, Rose, Greenwood (C), Ouahabi (Fowler 85’), Casparij (Beney 66’), Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown (Lohmann 99’), Hemp, Clinton (Fujino 66’), Kerolin (120’), Shaw (Murphy 120’).

Unused substitutes: Cumings, Wienroither, Prior.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Carpenter, Buurman (Bronze 70’), Nusken, Cuthbert (C), James (Beever-Jones 83’), Thompson (Rytting Kaneryd 80’), Kerr (Baltimore 83’), Charles, Buchanan, Walsh

Unused substitutes: Spencer, Peng, Baltimore, Kaptein, Potter, Sarwie

WHAT IT MEANS

City’s win at Stamford Bridge means we’ll play Brighton in the 2026 FA Cup final on Sunday 31 May.

UP NEXT

City’s next fixture is a trip to West Ham on Saturday 17 May at 13:00 (UK) in what is the final assignment of our triumphant Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.