Crystal Palace win FA Cup for the first time in their history (Image: PA)
Crystal Palace win FA Cup for the first time in their history (Image: PA)
Eberechi Eze’s first half goal and Dean Henderson’s heroics in goal saw Crystal Palace etch the club’s name in history as they beat Manchester City 1-0 to lift the FA Cup.
It was third time lucky for the Eagles as they put in a spirited performance to win a major trophy for the first time in their history, after tasting FA Cup final defeat in 1990 and 2016.
Eze handed the Eagles the advantage after 16 minutes, finishing well on the volley after a rapid counter-attack, after City had the lion’s share of possession.
(Image: PA)
Henderson pulled off a number of superb saves to keep City out, most notably denying Omar Marmoush’s penalty shortly after the half hour mark.
Palace thought they had extended their lead shortly before the hour mark through Daniel Munoz, but VAR chalked the goal off as Ismailia Sarr was offside.
And as much as the Citizens threw at Palace, they repelled Pep Guardiola’s side and held on to clinch the cup.
Oliver Glasner named the same XI that comfortably beat Aston Villa in the semi-final. Daichi Kamada partnered Adam Wharton in midfield, with the Englishman passing fit to start.
Guardiola, meanwhile, made a range of changes, including in goal, as Stefan Ortega started in place of Ederson, while Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic and James McAtee all dropped out of the squad from the 0-0 draw at Southampton.
Palace got the cup final underway but the first chance of the game went City’s way, Kevin de Bruyne clipping in a cross for Erling Haaland at the far post, Henderson got down brilliantly to save with six minutes on the clock.
Henderson again denied Josko Gvardiol’s header from a corner after 11 minutes, City with much of the possession in the opening exchanges, as the Eagles were compact in defence.
Manuel Akanji headed another corner over the bar as the Citizens turned up the pressure early on.
But Palace took the lead with their very first attack as Eze rounded off a rapid counterattack after 16 minutes.
A long ball up from the back from Chris Richards found Mateta, who exchanged passes with Kamada, the striker slipped the ball through for Daniel Munoz on the right, who crossed for Eze to finish first time from the middle of the box.
And Palace went close three minutes later, Munoz cutting it back for Ismaila Sarr, his flick saved and held by Ortega at the second attempt.
Henderson was again called into action as a ball over the top for Haaland caught the Englishman in two minds, the keeper clawing the ball away to safety.
That was briefly checked by VAR for handball outside the box and denying a goal scoring opportunity, but nothing was given.
City were handed a golden opportunity to equalise as Stuart Attwell awarded the Citizens a penalty after 33 minutes, Tyrick Mitchell sliding in on Bernardo Silva.
But Henderson kept Marmoush’s spot kick out diving full stretch to his right, clutching the rebound as Haaland looked to cut the ball back for the Egyptian.
(Image: PA)
Henderson was required to deny Jeremy Doku as he cut in and looked to find the far corner, de Bruyne blasted over the rebound with 43 minutes played.
Palace held firm to take a half time lead, and City looked for a fast start to the second period, Richards getting to a cross ahead of Haaland in the opening exchanges.
Doku curled a shot over the bar, before Eze saw a shot blocked from a Richards long throw, Wharton’s follow-up cannoning into Marc Guehi’s head.
The Palace skipper needed some treatment but was able to continue.
Kamada made a crucial block as Silva got in behind the Eagles’ defence, before Palace thought they had extended their advantage.
Richards launched in a long throw that dropped in the box and fell to Munoz. He shot into Sarr and, after Ortega spilt it, the right back bundled the ball home.
But the Senegalese was offside and the goal was chalked off by VAR.
(Image: PA)
Jefferson Lerma was called into action in the 60th minute when he replaced Guehi, who had been struggling with a head injury.
De Bruyne saw a shot bravely blocked by Wharton, the Englishman caught on the head and needing treatment.
Wharton was able to continue, Munoz blocking well from O’Reilly when he received the ball in space inside the Palace area.
Eddie Nketiah replaced Mateta in the 78th minute, Haaland headed over from a corner two minutes later.
Henderson saved at his near post Claudio Echeverri before Munoz shot wide after he was played in by Sarr.
Wharton was replaced by Will Hughes with four minutes to play, before the game entered ten added minutes at the end of the 90.
De Bruyne shot wide from the edge of the box in the third added minute, before Henderson saved from point-blank range two minutes later.
Doku shot wide with just seconds remaining of additional time, and that was it, referee Attwell blowing his whistle to see Crystal Palace crowned FA Cup winners for the first time.
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