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Chelsea Beats Leeds 1-0, Reach FA Cup Final

4/28/2026

50 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Chelsea Reach Final

Chelsea beat Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley on April 26, 2026, earning a spot in the FA Cup final on May 16.
Enzo Fernández headed the only goal in the 23rd minute from a Pedro Neto cross.
Interim manager Calum McFarlane led Chelsea after Liam Rosenior’s dismissal earlier that week.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez made key saves, stopping Brendan Aaronson, Anton Stach and a Dominic Calvert-Lewin header, ending Chelsea’s three-year final-defeat streak.

Summary

Chelsea Turmoil

Liam Rosenior (Chelsea manager) was dismissed after 106 days following a 3-0 loss, leaving Chelsea 12th and 10 points off Champions League.
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea midfielder) received a two-match ban after saying he wanted to live in Madrid, as Chelsea endured a five-game winless streak.
Calum McFarlane (interim coach) led Chelsea to the FA Cup final, victory that would grant a Europa League berth after the team fell to eighth.

History

Historical Context

After Roberto Di Matteo’s 2012 caretaker double of the Champions League and FA Cup, Chelsea repeatedly turned to interim coaches—Guus Hiddink in 2009, Rafael Benítez from 21 November 2012 who secured the Europa League, and in April 2026 Calum McFarlane, who guided a 1-0 semi-final win over Leeds. These short-term appointments illustrate the club’s pattern of cup success under temporary managers.

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Chelsea Reach Final

Chelsea beat Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley on April 26, 2026, earning a spot in the FA Cup final on May 16.
Enzo Fernández headed the only goal in the 23rd minute from a Pedro Neto cross.
Interim manager Calum McFarlane led Chelsea after Liam Rosenior’s dismissal earlier that week.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez made key saves, stopping Brendan Aaronson, Anton Stach and a Dominic Calvert-Lewin header, ending Chelsea’s three-year final-defeat streak.

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