Crystal Palace have won the first major domestic trophy in their history after beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In-form star Eberechi Eze scored what proved to be the match-winner early in the first half, sweeping home his sixth goal in five games across all competitions and his fifth successive goal in this year’s FA Cup.
The 144th FA Cup final turned into the Dean Henderson show, particularly in the first half, when Palace’s goalkeeper denied Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot and made several more important saves, while he was also somewhat fortunate to avoid a red card for handling outside the area.
Pep Guardiola named an attack-minded starting lineup and his Man City side, competing in their third successive FA Cup final, were dominant throughout, boasting 79% possession and 23 shots on goal, but they could not break down a resilient Palace backline that admirably stood firm under the famous arch.
Palace fans were biting their nails as 10 minutes of second-half additional time was confirmed by the fourth official, and despite City’s best efforts to restore parity late on, the Eagles soared to the biggest victory in their history, becoming the 45th different team to have their name engraved onto England’s most prestigious piece of silverware since the inaugural tournament in 1871.
As for Man City, they have lost a second consecutive FA Cup final having previously suffered defeat to rivals Manchester United last year, and they will end what has been a turbulent 2024-25 campaign without a major trophy.
SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT
© Imago
It is fair to say that Crystal Palace fans are feeling Glad All Over!
Oliver Glasner‘s army entered this Wembley showpiece with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and it is they who are celebrating the greatest day in the club’s 120-year existence as a professional club.
Not only are Palace basking in the glory of winning silverware, this FA Cup triumph also means that they have qualified for next season’s Europa League – the Eagles last competed in Europe back in 1998 (UEFA Intertoto Cup).
Palace may have had to ride countless Sky Blues storms throughout the contest, but they deserve huge credit for their spirited, disciplined and well-organised display – the likes of Guehi, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards admirably threw their bodies on the line to keep City at bay.
While Palace have achieved immortality, Man City travel back up north empty handed as they failed to make the net ripple for the second game in six days having previously been held to a disappointing goalless stalemate by Premier League basement club Southampton last time out.
Guardiola’s side unsurprisingly dominated proceedings, but they once again lacked a cutting edge in front of goal that they have shown so consistently over the years. Not even legendary playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could inspire the Citizens to victory in his final Wembley appearance for the club.
Erling Haaland was provided with slightly more service this time around after a frustrating afternoon at St Mary’s, but his Wembley drought goes on as the Norwegian has now failed to score in six appearances at the home of English football in a Citizens shirt.
Man City must quickly dust themselves down as they still have an opportunity to salvage something positive from what has been a disappointing season overall. Indeed, a top-five Premier League finish and Champions League qualification is now the primary focus for Guardiola and co.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS. MAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Eberechi Eze goal vs. Man City (16th min, Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City)
EZE GIVES CRYSTAL PALACE THE LEAD 😤
A dream goal for @CPFC 🌟#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/ASoptg4rOw
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 17, 2025
First chance, first goal!
After surviving a wave of constant Man City attacks, Palace burst forward and open the scoring through in-form star Eberechi Eze – his sixth goal in five games across all competitions.
It is a similarly-worked goal to Eze’s opener against the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium last month, as Jean-Philippe Mateta feeds Daniel Munoz on the right. The marauding Colombian sprints into the final third before his cross picks out Eze to slot home a superb first-time strike past Stefan Ortega.
24th min: Dean Henderson handball outside the area
Dean Henderson JUST about gets away with it 😅
Has VAR made the right decision? 🤔#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/ks7CGWQ0OJ
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 17, 2025
Has Henderson got lucky there?
The Palace goalkeeper is in a race with Erling Haaland and hesitates before swiping the ball clear of Man City’s striker just outside his own penalty area.
VAR intervens to take a look at the incident and determine whether a red card should be banished, but they decided that Henderson did not deny a goalscoring opportunity.
Dean Henderson saves Omar Marmoush’s penalty! (36th min, Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City)
HENDERSON SAVES MARMOUSH’S PENALTY 😮💨@CPFC‘s No.1 with a CRUCIAL stop 💥#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/zHklbMrNDF
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 17, 2025
Huge moment! Huge save!
Tyrick Mitchell needlessly slides in and brings down Bernardo Silva on the right side of the penalty area. Referee Stuart Atwell points to the spot and VAR sticks with the on-field decision after taking a brief look at the incident.
Erling Haaland surprisingly opted to hand the ball to Omar Marmoush and he strikes his spot kick to his left, but Henderson guesses correctly and makes a strong save, before Haaland’s rebound from a tight angle is cleared away from danger.
43rd min: Dean Henderson save and Kevin De Bruyne miss
Jeremy Doku beats Daniel Munoz down the left and cuts inside, but his curling effort towards the far corner is brilliantly denied by Henderson’s strong left hand.
The ball eventually drops to Kevin de Bruyne but he could only fire his effort on goal high over the bar from around eight yards out.
Daniel Munoz disallowed goal (57th min, Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City)
Daniel Munoz’s goal is ruled out for offside ❌#FACup pic.twitter.com/yZHgTmQ23G
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 17, 2025
Palace celebrate a second goal, but it is ruled out for offside.
Man City initially fail to clear their lines following a dangerous long throw from Chris Richards. The ball falls to Daniel Munoz and his strike deflects of teammate Ismaila Sarr, who is standing in an offside position, before Palace’s No.12 reacts quicker than Stefan Ortega to poke the ball in at the near post.
Just a minute later, Palace suffer another blow as captain Marc Guehi is taken off with an apparent injury.
82nd min: Claudio Echeverri chance
Man City debutant Claudio Echeverri has barely been on five minutes and he is presented with decent opportunity to restore parity for Man City. The teenager receives an exquisite through-ball from De Bruyne on the right side of the penalty box and fires a powerful shot at goal, but Henderson is there again and stands firm to keep Palace in front.
MAN OF THE MATCH – DEAN HENDERSON
© Imago
Dean Henderson had an eventful afternoon at Wembley, and while he may have been fortunate to remain on the pitch in the first half, no-one can deny how influential he was in inspiring the Eagles to their first-ever major trophy.
Watched on by new England head coach Thomas Tuchel, Henderson made a total of six saves, including that crucial penalty spot to deny Omar Marmoush not long after Eze had opened the scoring.
The 28-year-old, who wore the captain’s armband for the final half-hour following the withdrawal of Guehi, deserves all the plaudits that come his way for keeping arguably the biggest clean sheet of his career.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS. MAN CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Crystal Palace 21%-79% Man City
Shots: Crystal Palace 7-23 Man City
Shots on target: Crystal Palace 2-6 Man City
Corners: Crystal Palace 1-7 Man City
Fouls: Crystal Palace 7-1 Man City
BEST STATS
20 – Nico O’Reilly (20 years, 57 days) is the youngest player to play in an FA Cup final for Manchester City since Matija Nastasic in 2013 (20y 44d), and youngest English player to do so since both Tommy Caton (18y 220d) and Steve MacKenzie (19y 172d) in the 1981 replay. Stage. pic.twitter.com/rfn4Zp32Hv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 17, 2025
5 – Eberechi Eze is the first player to score in five consecutive appearances for Crystal Palace since Darren Ambrose netted in six in a row in November 2009. Soaring. pic.twitter.com/Wp1PMUL3Wa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 17, 2025
Only four players have scored for Crystal Palace in an FA Cup final at Wembley:
◎ Gary O’Reilly (1990)
◎ Ian Wright (1990)
◎ Jason Puncheon (2016)
◉ Eberechi Eze (2025)
Adding his name to the history books. 📖#EmiratesFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/hGooluhVwt
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 17, 2025
Excluding shootouts, Dean Henderson has now saved four of the last eight penalties he has faced.
◉ SAVED Declan Rice’s penalty
◉ SAVED Harry Kane’s penalty
◉ SAVED Youri Tielemans’ penalty
◉ SAVED Omar Marmoush’s penalty
A HUGE moment at Wembley. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/3wOLEp4ot5
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 17, 2025
2010 – Dean Henderson is the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final (excl. shootouts) since Petr Cech for Chelsea against Portsmouth in 2010. Wall. pic.twitter.com/XZAZihP3kw
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 17, 2025
1 – Crystal Palace have won their first ever major trophy. They are the first English club to win their first major title since Wigan Athletic in the 2012-13 FA Cup, who also beat Manchester City in the final that year. Dreamland. pic.twitter.com/iVx6fSh3FY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 17, 2025
1 – This win qualifies Crystal Palace for next season’s UEFA Europa League – it will be their first ever appearance in major European competition. Adventure. pic.twitter.com/d6iZXWyVTK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 17, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Man City will now shift their focus back to the Premier League and their pursuit of a top-five finish as they welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night for Kevin De Bruyne’s final home match as a Citizens player.
As for Crystal Palace, they are also in action next Tuesday when they play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park in their penultimate top-flight fixture of the season.
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