CHELSEA 1-0 LEEDS UNITED: Enzo Fernandez nets the only goal for the managerless Blues, who book their place in the FA Cup final after Liam Rosenior’s departure
17:01, 26 Apr 2026Updated 17:02, 26 Apr 2026
Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea 1-0 up(Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea shrugged off the sacking of Liam Rosenior to beat Leeds and book their place in the FA Cup final. The Blues have lost five successive Premier League games without scoring, but put in an improved showing at Wembley under interim boss Calum McFarlane and will face Manchester City in the final.
Enzo Fernandez scored the game’s only goal early on and it was enough for Chelsea to end a miserable run of form four days after Rosenior was given his marching orders three months into a six-year contract. The Blues went ahead in the 23rd minute when their captain found the net from Pedro Neto’s cross after Pascal Struijk surrendered possession.
Robert Sanchez kept Brenden Aaronson’s effort out with his foot, produced a stunning save to keep out a piledriver from Anton Stach and caught a free header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Joao Pedro hit the inside of the near post before Chelsea took the lead, and although they didn’t go close again, their solitary goal was enough at Wembley. Here are the talking points.
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READ MORE: Laura Woods struck by football live on TNT before FA Cup semi-final pundits get soakedREAD MORE: Steven Gerrard launches ferocious Chelsea criticism – ‘you’d never trust them again’1. New era for Enzo
The footage of Fernandez stood watching the furious Chelsea away fans following the 3-0 defeat by Brighton will stick in the memory, proving to be the last on-pitch moment of Rosenior’s short-lived reign as manager. So it was fitting that the Argentina international opened the scoring in the first game after Rosenior was sacked.
Fernandez was dropped for two games by Rosenior, in an attempt to establish his ailing (or perhaps never existing) authority. The Chelsea captain appeared like a man reborn at Wembley, leading the charge for his side, who made much the brighter start. His goal came from the intensity in midfield, Neto’s measured cross and Fernandez’s clever movement.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring for Chelsea(Image: Cameron Smith/The FA via Getty Images)
2. Hair pulling in the spotlight again
Two weeks ago, Manchester United were enraged when Lisandro Martinez was sent off following a VAR review for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. At Wembley, it was the Leeds striker doing the pulling – and this time there was a different outcome.
“That’s not even worth talking about, I don’t think,” said Ally McCoist on co-commentary for TNT Sports. “I agree,” said Steven Gerrard immediately. The VAR ultimately agreed, with Calvert-Lewin’s action not reaching the bar to be deemed violent conduct.
Having never really been a regular occurrence, hair pulling – and how the officials referee it – is now a hot topic.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin escaped with no punishment for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair(Image: TNT Sports)
3. Farke’s tactical shift
Leeds had been outnumbered in the middle of the pitch in the first half and Daniel Farke chose to change things at half-time, bringing off centre-backs James Justin and Jaka Bijol for defender Joe Rodon and midfielder Stach. The change saw Leeds switch from a three-man defence to a flat back four, with Stach joining Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu in midfield.
Leeds came out of the changing room with renewed impetus and Stach’s powerful effort set the tone for the second half. But that momentum shift faded and Leeds failed to muster a siege on Sanchez’s goal, with Chelsea weathering the storm to win fairly comfortably.
Anton Stach’s introduction at half-time made a difference for Leeds(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
4. Sanchez saves the day
Chelsea’s goalkeeper has a reputation for the absurd. He undeniably has a clanger in him. Brain fades are semi-regular occurances. And you wouldn’t be surprised if, when Chelsea find a new manager, they move to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer.
But the Spaniard enjoyed one of his good – and crucially error-free – days at Wembley. He saved well with his foot from Aaronson in the first half and his reflexes were there for all to see when Stach smashed a powerful effort in early in the first half. His time-wasting didn’t make him popular with the Leeds fans, but Sanchez performed his primary duty well.
Robert Sanchez played well for Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
5. Chance to salvage something
Chelsea’s season fell apart in the mauling by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month. Having pulled it level at 2-2, they collapsed to succumb 8-2 on aggregate and begin the slide towards Rosenior’s sacking. Apart from a 7-0 thrashing of Port Vale, Sunday’s win over Leeds was their first since March 7, when they got past Wrexham in extra-time in the FA Cup.
Reaching the FA Cup final gives the club a shot at some sort of salvation. Ultimately, it is all about Champions League qualification for the club, who need that income more than most. But with the team sitting eighth in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of fifth place, with four games remaining, that goal has all but gone. If they beat Man City next month upon their return to Wembley, then at least their dreadful campaign will end with silverware.
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