Crystal Palace pulled off a stunning upset on Saturday, defeating Manchester City 1–0 at Wembley to win their first-ever FA Cup title, thanks to an early strike from Eberechi Eze.
Eze’s 16th-minute goal—capping a remarkable personal journey from youth rejection to cup glory—was enough to sink a faltering City side already enduring one of their most disappointing seasons under Pep Guardiola. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson delivered a standout performance, saving Omar Marmoush’s penalty and making a string of crucial stops to deny City a lifeline.
Controversy erupted in the first half when Henderson appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area. Despite calls for a red card, VAR ruled the incident wasn’t an “obvious goal-scoring opportunity.” The decision proved pivotal as Henderson went on to frustrate City repeatedly.
Palace’s victory secures them a spot in next season’s Europa League and marks a historic moment for the club, who had previously lost FA Cup finals in 1990 and 2016—both against Manchester United.
For City, it’s a bitter blow. This defeat means they’ll finish the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2016–17. Guardiola’s decision to field an ultra-attacking side without a holding midfielder backfired, as Palace exploited the gaps on the counter.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner tactically outmanoeuvred his counterpart, setting up his team to absorb pressure and strike on the break. That plan worked perfectly as Daniel Muñoz’s surging run set up Eze’s crisp volley.
City’s misfortunes were compounded when Haaland handed the penalty duties to Marmoush—only for Henderson to save it. From then on, the England shot-stopper was unbeatable, denying efforts from Doku and Echeverri as Palace defended with grit and resilience.
The result deepens Guardiola’s woes in a season marred by inconsistency, Champions League failure, and Premier League underperformance. As they fight to salvage a top-four finish, the pressure mounts—with Palace celebrating a triumph 120 years in the making.
AFP
