Crystal Palace have won the FA Cup for the very first time in the club’s history after a 1-0 win at Wembley over Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side had the first effort after six minutes, with Kevin De Bruyne picking out Erling Haaland inside the penalty box.
But the Norwegian’s effort back across goal was stopped by Dean Henderson and forced out for a corner.
The Eagles took the lead against the run of play after 15 minutes when Daniel Munoz broke away on the counter-attack and crossed for Eberechi Eze to arrive into the box and slot beyond Stefan Ortega.
Ismaila Sarr could have made it two minutes later when the Eagles broke forward again on the counter, but the winger’s shot was saved smartly by the City keeper.
City believed that Palace keeper Dean Henderson should have been sent off for a handball outside the penalty area following Sarr’s missed chance.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City, Emirates FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, 17 May 2025
Picture: Keith Gillard
VAR reviewed the incident, but despite still pictures showing Henderson to be outside of his area, referee Stuart Atwell waved play on.
But they were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute when Tyrick Mitchell brought down Bernardo Silva.
Omar Marmoush stepped up to convert but Henderson pulled off a stop down to his right-hand side to thwart the former Frankfurt attacker and keep Palace’s lead intact.
Henderson’s next moment of heroics saw him fling a left hand at Jeremy Doku’s left-footed shot arrowed for the top corner and push the ball away from danger.
City kept the pressure on at the start of the second half as they pushed for an equaliser.
Portuguese playmaker Silva was played through on goal in the 55th minute but Daichi Kamada produced a timely slide challenge to stop Silva from getting a shot off at goal.
The Eagles thought they had given themselves breathing room and extended their lead three minutes later when Daniel Munoz scored from close range.
But the VAR replay showed Sarr to be in an offside position when the ball rebounded to the Colombian right wing-back.
Munoz was next to pull off a goal-saving block inside the area, denying Nico O’Reily after he was slipped through on goal.
Claudio Echeverri was next to look to bring the scoreline level with eight minutes of normal time, but Henderson stood firm again to deny the City substitute.
Munoz flashed one more effort across goal and City threw on Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan in search of an equaliser.
But Palace held out to secure their first ever major piece of silverware as a football club – lifting the FA Cup.
Palace’s triumph also means they have sealed a place in next season’s Europa League competition.
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD