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We were not played out of the park even though it wasn’t our best game in the first half. Credit to my players. We went for it and pressed higher and dominated more. Of course, you always have to be switched on for counter attacks. But the goalkeeper was able to get two great saves. And the defensive flow of Chelsea was there, it was top defensive behavior. They always had an answer to all our questions that we asked. It’s hard to take anyhow, but nevertheless, I’m proud of the cup run.
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It was a tight game. They were able to find the back of the net. I think we nearly dominated at least one statistic more shots on target, more expected goals, more big chances missed. But it’s also fair to say that the football in the first half we didn’t have our best days. You could feel the boys were a bit too nervous today to be at their free-flowing best and for that we had a few unnecessary loss of the balls and assisted more or less to their two or three chances in the first half.
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It’s amazing. The boys reacted in the way they should have. We’ve tried to keep everyone positive in training and it’s the chance to be in another final. It’s something we’ve been working for and it’s amazing.
I’m happy. I always try to do my job. We go through ups and downs. I’m very happy about the season I’ve had but it’s about ending it on a high. Four Premier League games to go and a final.
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I did the job for a week in January so I knew what I was stepping into. It’s actually been easier this time because I have a relationship with the players, I’ve worked with them for three or four months now, and I had a feel for what they needed psychologically. It’s been intense but not as crazy as the last time.
We knew Leeds were at their most dangerous when we had deep possession, because they go man for man, so we wanted to negate that by going longer. Create a bit of fear in them, because we’ve got athletes in our top line, and then once they dropped we got space to play.
I thought Enzo’s positioning was brilliant, the way he pulled wider to pin the right-winger, so we had a spare man in the build-up and we took control.
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Chelsea have been serial cup winners, but they have lost their last six domestic finals.
17 - Chelsea have reached their 17th FA Cup final, and first since 2022, while only Manchester United (22) and Arsenal (21) have advanced to the final on more occasions than the Blues in the competition. Celebration. pic.twitter.com/uY1c4pV9gM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2026
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The Leeds supporters, to their credit, are applauding their players after an improved second-half performance. But for such an auspicious occasion, the effort here felt tepid. Chelsea were effective in strangling the life out of them, and perhaps their most animated display came when they suspected goalkeeper Robert Sanchez of feigning injury to force a coaching break. It says much about Leeds’ woes at Wembley that the scorer of their last goal at the national stadium was Eric Cantona.
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Chelsea will play Manchester City in the 2026 FA Cup final, when they will have the chance to win the competition for the ninth time. One Step Beyond rings around Wembley, and Chelsea deserved their win over the piece. They played almost all of the football in the first half, and then held Leeds at arm’s length in the second. Another unhappy day at Wembley for Leeds and their fans, they never quite brought the chaotic energy that typifies them at their best.
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We are beyond the eight minutes but they play on because of the time taken for the substitutions.
Chalobah heads out for a throw-in, which Ampadu is going to launch into the box.
Perri is up, but Sanchez punches clear, and then Chelsea close down well at the edge of the box.
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It might be cramp, but Gudmundsson is finishing the game on one leg. Stach penalised for a foul in midfield. Liam Delap is coming on for Chelsea with 90 seconds on the clock. I think Leeds’ race is run.
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Longstaff floats a free-kick to the back post, good delivery, but Calvert-Lewin could not quite get there. Chelsea goal kick.
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An incredibly scrappy sequence of play, both teams giving the ball away repeatedly in a frantic 30 seconds, before Pedro Neto rolls around holding his face trying to get Bogle sent off for an elbow. The Leeds defender is unfortunate to get a yellow, pretty pathetic stuff from Neto. Still four minutes to play.
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Chelsea have defended their box well, especially from Gudmundsson’s crosses from the left. Fernandez volleys one away before Calvert-Lewin is beaten to a header.
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There will be EIGHT minutes of added time to play.
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Longstaff with a foul on Caicedo now, these fouls have taken the life out of the game which suits Chelsea just fine. It looks a painful one for Caicedo, it was knee-on-knee contact with Longstaff.
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Aaronson is the player replaced by Longstaff for Leeds. Calvert-Lewin guilty of wanting too many touches after dropping into a midfield area. Leeds need a moment of inspiration from somewhere.
Caicedo defends well, and wins Chelsea goal kick, which he celebrates with some gusto.
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Nmecha the latest Leeds player to be booked, sliding in and catching Caicedo with his follow through. Chelsea can slow the game down again. Longstaff is about to come on for Leeds.
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Stach with another long-range strike, but he failed to get over the ball and his shot sailed miles over. Leeds looking a little short of ideas but it only takes a moment.
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Nmecha and Andrey Santos throw themselves into a 50:50 and the free-kick goes the way of Leeds. It was a good piece of defending from Gudmundsson to intercept a through ball towards Palmer.
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Now Ampadu has been booked for tripping Pedro Neto, who has switched to the right flank since the introduction of Cole Palmer. Chelsea can see the finish line now.
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Great close control and hold-up play from Joao Pedro, and Struijk is shown a yellow card from dragging him down on halfway. Chelsea have restored some order to the game, but a one-goal lead is always fragile. Can Leeds rouse themselves?
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Cucurella heads a Leeds corner away at the near post. Tanaka and Okafor are the players coming off for Nmecha and Gnonto. Chelsea defend well from an Ampadu long throw, and Neto helps bring them up the pitch.
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Chelsea making another change: Cole Palmer on for Alejandro Garnacho. Leeds are about to bring on Nmecha and Gnonto. Sanchez going down and stopping the game does seem to have stalled Leeds’ rhythm.
Gudmundsson with a cross which is behind Calvert-Lewin, and then the ball bounces off Bogle for a Chelsea throw.
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Leeds have definitely improved since the restart. Sanchez has saved from substitute Stach and Calvert-Lewin, and there is just a bit more fight and intensity from Daniel Farke’s team. In the stands, England head coach Thomas Tuchel is sitting just a couple of seats down from the man who sacked him at Chelsea, co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
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Leeds have been much better in the second half. Gudmundsson lifts in a cross from the left which drops for Tanaka to hit on the volley, but he completely mistimed it and scuffed wide.
Chelsea make their first sub: Andrey Santos replaces Romeo Lavia.
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Yellow card for Caicedo after catching Stach on the ankle with his studs. Leeds will have a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position. Sanchez has sat down in the six-yard box... replays show Tosin had a word with the goalkeeper just before he walked back towards his goal and hit the turf. All of the Chelsea players go across to McFarlane for a tactical conflab. Leeds’ players not happy and their fans sing “you cheating b------s, you know what you are.”
From the free-kick, Stach shoots wide of the near post and the Leeds fans boo Sanchez as he takes the goal kick.
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Chance for Calvert-Lewin! Okafor floats in a diagonal cross from the left, and Calvert-Lewin has an age to line up the header from a fair way out. Makes good contact, but too close to Sanchez and the Chelsea goalkeeper catches it.
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Chelsea have another corner, and with Leeds playing with one fewer defender in this half you would think they will get more chances. It was Garnacho’s shot that deflected over, before an Enzo Fernandez inswinger lands on the roof of the net.
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A mess down near Chelsea’s corner flag, with Gusto trying to shield the ball from Aaronson and lying on the ball with it between his legs. Eventually, Pedro Neto wins Chelsea a throw-in.
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Leeds survive a couple of Chelsea corners, before Tanaka releases Okafor down the left. He brushed beyond Fernandez and lifts a cross into the box, just above the head of Calvert-Lewin. Then Tanaka escapes a yellow card from bringing down Joao Pedro. Much better game than the last 15 minutes of the first half.
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Chelsea go up the other end, and should have their second after a delightful move. Gusto with a lovely piece of skill, before Fernandez plays a first-time backheel into the path of Pedro only six or seven yards out but he delayed and delayed and the Leeds defenders snuffed out the danger. Pedro needed to put his foot through it.
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What an effort from Stach! Drilled a first-time shot from 25 yards that travelled so true between bodies, and Sanchez made an excellent save with a strong right hand. Such was the power in the shot, the ball bounced off Sanchez’s wrists on to the roof of the net.
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Bogle tries to gee up the Leeds fans at the start of the half as they win a long throw.
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Joe Rodon and Anton Stach are on for James Justin and Bijol. That looks like a switch to a back four for Leeds. Ampadu, Stach and Tanaka will try to get to grips with Fernandez.
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13 - Enzo Fernández has scored 13 goals for Chelsea in all competitions this season; the only midfielder to score more for Premier League clubs in 2025-26 is Morgan Gibbs-White (16). Output. pic.twitter.com/2Oo7Thvjay
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2026
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Frankly, Leeds have been underwhelming so far in their first FA Cup semi-final for 39 years. Bereft of creativity, they are being dominated in midfield, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has failed to muster a single shot on target from his nine touches. This is threatening to be their fourth consecutive visit to Wembley without scoring, with their League Cup defeat in 1996 compounded by play-off final agonies in 2008 and 2024.
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The Chelsea players who disgraced themselves at Brighton have staged a remarkable revival in the space of a few days. They have been in control throughout, bar one chance from Aaronson early on, dictating the game in midfield where goalscorer Enzo Fernandez has been influential. Leeds need to gamble and commit more players forward in their press, even if it risks leaving space for Chelsea’s fast forwards.
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An aimless ball forward from Justin towards Calvert-Lewin drifts behind for a Chelsea goal kick, and the team in blue continue to look very comfortable. There will be four minutes of added time to play.
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Ampadu launches a long throw into the Chelsea penalty area, Tosin gets his head to the ball, but then Okafor slashed a volley well over the bar. Okafor has not got his decision-making or final shot right so far today.
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The game has just gone through a bit of a lull, with Caicedo staying down with a sore shoulder, but Chelsea fans and Calum McFarlane will be pleased by the pattern of this first half.
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Okafor with a shot from distance after a heavy touch from Joao Pedro but he recovers to block the shot from distance. Leeds hoping for Chelsea mistakes to get a sight of goal, they do not look like generating much themselves.
Chelsea then threaten again with Garnacho, booed by the Leeds fans after staying down then suddenly springing to his feet, but the winger’s low cross runs all the way through the six-yard box.
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Enzo Fernandez has been excellent so far, even if you ignored the goal he scored. Caicedo and Lavia are attracting the attention of the Leeds midfield and Fernandez has drifted into dangerous positions behind them.
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Leeds with the chance to put the ball in the mixer from a free-kick but Calvert-Lewin is penalised for a foul.
At the other end, Enzo Fernandez is involved again closing down at the edge of the Leeds box, and Joao Pedro volleys not far wide.
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More drama at Wembley: VAR is checking whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled the hair of Marc Cucurella. Calvert-Lewin had his hair pulled when Lisandro Martinez was sent off for Manchester United a few weeks ago. Eventually, VAR reaches the conclusion that there was not enough in it, but Cucurella certainly seemed to feel it and recoiled.
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That was on the cards, Chelsea have been the better team. Struijk gets himself in a tangle from a long Sanchez kick, allowing Pedro to pick up a loose ball and feed Neto wide right. He stands up a cross with his right foot into a good area, and Fernandez ghosted in unmarked to bury a header.
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Leeds’ approach has been a little conservative so far. They are keeping their back five in place against Chelsea’s front three of Neto, Pedro and Garnacho – perhaps wary of their speed – and that is giving Chelsea numerical advantage and control elsewehere.
And now Chelsea have hit the post! Great effort from Pedro with his left foot, and the ball cannoned off the near post and across the face of goal to safety. Thet could easily have kissed the woodwork and gone in.
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Some slick football involving Neto and Gusto down the Chelsea right, but the full-back played the ball behind his team-mates when there was a promising attack building.
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Leeds burst into life as an attacking force! Bogle carries the ball forward and wraps a pass into Calvert-Lewin, and the striker played a gorgeous pass around the corner for the run of Aaronson. He only had Sanchez to beat but the Chelsea goalkeeper saved with an outstretched leg.
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Promising opening for Chelsea there, with Caicedo dinking a pass over the Leeds defence for the run of Garnacho but he failed to control the ball when there was a chance to get a shot off. Leeds playing the game without the ball at the moment.
That touch from Alejandro Garnacho sums up his Chelsea career so far. It was a wonderful ball over from Moises Caicedo, but the winger’s control was reminiscent of that of former Blues head coach Liam Rosenior at Arsenal earlier this season. Garnacho is being booed by the Leeds fans every time he touches the ball.
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Chelsea dominating possession now, playing the game in Leeds’ half. All of the players in blue are enjoying touches of the ball. Neto and Garnacho are staying wide with Enzo Fernandez operating like a second striker behind Pedro. Caicedo looks for a diagonal pass to Neto but the ball skips out for a Leeds goal kick.
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Chelsea starting to enjoy some possession, and Enzo Fernandez finds space to shoot from distance after a Joao Pedro knockdown but his effort was straight at Perri. Then Neto spins in behind Gudmundsson to help Chelsea establish themselves in the final third.
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Tanaka tried to whip the free-kick up and over the wall, but got underneath it and the ball floated harmlessly over the bar. Chelsea can now try to settle into the game after that awkward opening.
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This is the last thing Chelsea needed with confidence fragile. They were caught on the ball in midfield with Tanaka getting his foot in against Gusto, and Okafor was able to run at the heart of the Chelsea defence. Caicedo clips Okafor, and Leeds have a free-kick in a shooting position just outside the box. Gusto stays down and receives some treatment.
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There are still quite a few empty seats in the Chelsea end, which is in contrast to the packed side of the ground where the Leeds fans are. The Leeds players will almost certainly have the noisier support behind them today.
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The Leeds fans have just belted out Marching On Together (real title Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!)
That anthem was released just before the 1972 FA Cup final, when Leeds beat Arsenal. They lost to Sunderland at Wembley in 1973, and have not since reached the final.
Now they have the chance to change that, but they have never beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup.
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For once in a good mood because there is nothing to lose, just another chance to write the chapter of history.
We are used to playing teams of this calibre, we had many difficult games during the season, we have stayed unbeaten against top sides, two times unbeaten against Liverpool and Chelsea themselves. Four points against Man United.
The games against Manchester City were tight. If we have a top day and we deliver in a perfect way then we have a chance against the reigning champions of the Club World Cup.
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No holding back from our columnist as he assesses Chelsea’s startling regression under BlueCo: “Those in charge at Stamford Bridge wanted to go about their business in a different way from Roman Abramovich. They have certainly managed that, spending over £1.5bn to make Chelsea less successful, less feared, less respected and less profitable.”
You can read Jamie’s column in full here.
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It is the familiar 5-3-2 shape for Leeds, but the forward runs of Jayden Bogle and James Justin will make the system more adventurous than in looks on paper. Brenden Aaronson divides opinion among Leeds fans, but he will push on to Lavia and Caicedo in an attempt to rush them into mistakes. It is a proper front two with Okafor and Calvert-Lewin.
Tosin Adarabioyo’s return to the Chelsea team will not fill the club’s fans with confidence. He started next to Trevoh Chalobah last time Calum McFarlane was interim head coach against Fulham, a game which Chelsea lost 2-1. His aerial presence may come in handy against Calvert-Lewin.
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George Best, Peter Osgood, the Kray twins, Alan Hudson in a Bentley on the King’s Road and “all these birds” around George Lazenby... all get a mention in this highly recommended Sam Wallace interview with David Webb. The former Chelsea player, now 80, scored the winner against Leeds United in the 1970 FA Cup final replay after two tempestuous contests.
We began our conversation intending to talk about 1970, but Webb’s life is a lot richer than just the brutal Cup final replay 56 years ago. Born in 1946 in Stratford, east London, on a street now buried under the Olympic Park, he can remember things about football – and about London – that few others can.
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Leeds United starting XI: Lucas Perri, Justin, Bijol, Struijk, Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Darlow, Rodon, Bornauw, Longstaff, Stach, James, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha
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Hello and welcome to all the live action form today’s FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds at Wembley.
Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane is certain the prospect of reaching an FA Cup final will be motivation for his players following their woeful league run that led to Liam Rosenior’s sacking.
Five consecutive defeats with no goals scored is the club’s worst run since 1912 and Tuesday’s 3-0 hammering by Brighton proved the final straw for Rosenior, who was dismissed three months into a six-and-a-half-year contract.
Today’s semi-final against Leeds could not have come at a worse moment but McFarlane, who has been handed the reins until the end of the season, insisted the capitulation at the Amex Stadium – widely considered to have been the worst performance of the season – will not inhibit the team as they seek a return to Wembley in May.
“Really disappointing,” he said of Tuesday’s loss that prompted the hierarchy to remove the manager. “It was hard to watch that, hard to see that. To be dominated from minute one to minute 90. Brighton were very good but we were nowhere near our levels.
“Everything has been done that we possibly can to make sure the lads are as best prepared as they can be for what Leeds are going to throw at us and what we have to stand up to. I believe the players will be motivated to get to an FA Cup final.”
Chelsea’s run has seen them all but eliminated from contention to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The alarming nature of recent defeats, most significantly in losing 3-0 to Everton and Manchester City before collapsing on the south coast last week, was ultimately what prompted the club to remove Rosenior in order to prevent a disappointing season from further unravelling.
By the time Chelsea play against Nottingham Forest on May 4 it will have been two months since their last league goal, in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa.
The defeat to Brighton appeared to demonstrate that the players were no longer responding to the manager, and it is understood that there is an acceptance within the club that appointing a head coach with such limited experience was a mistake.
“Everyone at the club has to feel responsible, staff and players,” said McFarlane. “The players know that, the staff know that, we’ve all spoken.
“We know that the recent form has not been good enough and we’re going do absolutely everything we can, work as hard as we possibly can, to make sure we can put in a good performance.
“A lot of football is about momentum. We’ve had a bit of a losing streak and that can change with one positive result, one positive performance.”
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