At Wembley Stadium yesterday, Manchester City's FA Cup defense remained intact, courtesy of a late Bernardo Silva goal that secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the semi-finals. Silva's decisive strike in the 84th minute not only propelled City into the final but also kept alive their hopes of clinching a domestic double this season.

The match was defined by Chelsea's failure to capitalize on numerous clear-cut chances, particularly through striker Nicolas Jackson, who missed three golden opportunities to put his team ahead. Chelsea's frustration was compounded in the second half when they had a penalty appeal for handball against Jack Grealish turned down, only to see Silva score the winner shortly afterward.

Tactical Breakdown

Pep Guardiola's setup faced scrutiny following a midweek Champions League exit. Without Erling Haaland, City seemed to lack their usual sharpness in attack, relying heavily on Kevin De Bruyne's creativity. De Bruyne's delivery from wide areas, including the cross that eventually led to Silva's goal, was among City's few offensive highlights.

Chelsea, under Mauricio Pochettino, appeared the better side for large stretches, pressing City back and creating numerous openings through dynamic forward play. However, their lack of clinical finishing proved costly. Pochettino lamented the missed chances post-match, emphasizing the need for ruthlessness in front of goal that his team lacked on the day.

Key Moments

The match might be best remembered for its pivotal moments - Jackson's missed chances and the penalty shout being chief among them. Each was a reminder of how fine the margins can be between success and failure in such high-stakes matches.

City's goal came from a well-worked move, initiated by De Bruyne and finished by Silva, who demonstrated the composure absent from Chelsea's forward line. This moment of quality underlined why Manchester City are defending champions and remain formidable contenders under Guardiola.

Implications

This victory sends City back to Wembley for the final, where they could face a historic showdown against Manchester United, should United overcome Coventry in the other semi-final. A Manchester derby in the FA Cup final would be a repeat of last year's climax and a rare consecutive final matchup between the same teams.

For Chelsea, this result is another chapter in their recent history of FA Cup semi-final woes, marking their 11th exit at this stage. The defeat will surely prompt reflection and perhaps recalibration as they look to rebuild and challenge more consistently.

Looking Forward

Manchester City's ability to grind out a win, despite not being at their best, bodes well for their domestic campaigns. However, Guardiola will be aware of the need to rejuvenate his squad, particularly with the Premier League title race in full swing.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will return to the drawing board. The potential and talent are evident, but converting that into victories is the next step for Pochettino's project. For now, City can savor another trip to the FA Cup final, while Chelsea must contend with what could have been.