Crystal Palace secured their first major trophy in club history with a stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute strike proved decisive as Palace capitalized on their first meaningful attack of the match. The goal came against the run of play after Jean-Philippe Mateta held up a long ball before finding Daniel Munoz, who delivered a perfect pass for Eze to steer past Stefan Ortega.
Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson emerged as the hero with several crucial interventions, including a penalty save from Omar Marmoush. Henderson’s performance was not without controversy, as he appeared to handle the ball outside his area to deny Erling Haaland early in the match but escaped with just a yellow card after VAR determined the ball was moving away from goal.
Oliver Glasner’s well-organized side withstood relentless City pressure throughout the match, defending resolutely to preserve their slender advantage. A potential second Palace goal from Munoz was disallowed by VAR for offside, but it didn’t matter as they held firm during ten minutes of added time to secure the historic triumph.
The victory not only delivers Palace’s first FA Cup but also guarantees European football next season with qualification for the Europa League. This represents a remarkable achievement for a club that has often lived in the shadow of London’s bigger teams.
For Manchester City, the defeat caps a disappointing season by their lofty standards. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Pep Guardiola’s side couldn’t find a way past Henderson. The result means City could potentially miss Champions League qualification, an unthinkable scenario given their recent dominance of English football.
The match highlighted Palace’s tactical discipline and counter-attacking prowess under Glasner, who has transformed the team since his appointment. Their victory serves as a reminder of the FA Cup’s enduring magic and ability to produce unexpected champions against overwhelming odds.
