You will receive an email containing a link to reset your password.
Back to log-in
With European disappointment to deal with for English clubs in the Champions League and the Europa League, the FA Cup provided a platform for 4 sides to extend their respective seasons and fight for a trophy. Holders Manchester City are generally the favourites in any competition they enter and in their way in the last 4 was Chelsea, a side who have spent and flopped spectacularly over the past 12 months. Meanwhile in the other semifinal, Manchester United were looking to make it back-to-back FA Cup finals, as they took on Championship side Coventry, who last won the competition back in 1987 and who were buoyant at their return to Wembley for the semifinals in 2024. The FA Cup has provided drama for over 150 years and this round of fixtures were no different.
Manchester City 1 – 0 Chelsea Heading into this FA Cup semifinal, all of the talk in the build-up was related to the pressure being placed on Manchester City. The blues were knocked out of the Champions League on penalties by serial European Cup winners Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s side only had 72 hours to turn around before this huge encounter at Wembley.
Chelsea meanwhile came into this game off the back of a very poor season under Mauricio Pochettino but their 6-0 thumping of Everton in the run up to this game, suggested that the blues had started to click into gear a little this term.
Guardiola and Pochettino have faced off numerous times over the years, with plenty of different tactics adopted by both men and this was a cagey encounter from the outset, as both sides looked to be confident in possession and limit risk where possible.
City had the better of the opening exchanges, with Phil Foden unable to convert when rounding Dorde Petrovic in the Chelsea goal but Chelsea reminded City of their dangerous attacking forces, as Cole Palmer forced a good save from Stefan Ortega and Nicholas Jackson hesitated when through on goal, enabling City’s defensive line to catch up with him.
The half time whistle came at a good time for both sides but Chelsea ramped things up at the start of the second period, with Jackson spurning two more chances, before a Cole Palmer free kick snuck just past City’s post.
City didn’t show too many signs of tiredness though and came good, with Jack Grealish setting up Phil Foden, to bring a sharp save from Petrovic, before the breakthrough eventually came, as Bernardo Silva slashed home, following a Kevin de Bruyne cutback.
From there on in, City were comfortable, and they booked their place in the FA Cup Final for the second successive season, leaving Chelsea to rue what might have been.
Manchester United 3 – 3 Coventry City Manchester United win 4-2 on penalties An FA Cup tie like very few others was witnessed at Wembley in the other semi-final, as Championship side Coventry City won plenty of new fans and heaps of plaudits, as they ran Manchester United painfully close to an embarrassing FA Cup exit.
With all of the resources Manchester United have, they were of course expected to win this game at a canter and knowing that Manchester City wait in the final, the anticipation was ramped up a little further.
It was United who started the better too, as they look the lead through Scott McTominay, who finished sharply, before Harry Maguire got up well late in the first period to double United’s lead from a corner. When Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 just after the hour mark, the damage looked to be done and United fans were booking their return tickets to Wembley on May 25th.
However, Coventry were certainly not done yet and their confidence in the contest grew when Ellis Simms finished smartly with 20 minutes to go, giving the sky blues a slight glimmer of hope. That optimism grew even further when Callum O’Hare’s deflected strike pulled them within one goal and when Hadji Wright converted a 95th minute penalty, Coventry fans were fully embroiled in a sense of delirium.
Extra time looked to be meandering towards its climax before Victor Torp thought he had won the game for Coventry, only for VAR to intervene, citing an offside decision in the build up to the goal and penalties were set.
Whilst Casemiro missed his first kick for United, the Red Devils ultimately held their nerve, prevailing 4-2 to set up an all-Manchester FA Cup Final clash for the second season running.
Manchester City and Manchester United will lock horns once again in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday 25th May 2024.
Champions Travel will use the information you provide on this form to reach out with updates, news, special offers, surveys, competitions and marketing emails.
If you wish to opt-out of receiveing marketing emails please check the box here:
You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the email you receive from us, or by emailing info@champions-travel.com. We will treat your information with respect. Please take the time to check out our Privacy Policy. By clicking subscribe / enter now, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.
