Crystal Palace has won its first-ever FA Cup title, defeating Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. Eberechi Eze scored the winning goal in the 16th minute, sweeping home Daniel Munoz’s cross from inside the box at the end of a swift counterattack.
Match Highlights
- Eze’s Winning Goal: Eze’s clinical finish was the culmination of his remarkable rise from rejection by Arsenal, Fulham, and Millwall as a youngster.
- Dean Henderson’s Heroics: Goalkeeper Dean Henderson emerged as Palace’s hero, making crucial saves, including a penalty stop from Omar Marmoush in the 35th minute. Henderson also denied City again, clawing away a Jeremy Doku strike that appeared destined for the top corner.
- City’s Disappointment: Manchester City dominated possession, with nearly 77%, but struggled to create clear-cut chances. They had 23 shots, but Palace’s defense held strong.

Controversy Surrounding Henderson
There was debate about whether Henderson should have been sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area when Haaland was running through on goal. However, VAR deemed it was not a red card offense, and Henderson went on to make several crucial saves ¹ ².
Post-Match Reaction
- Oliver Glasner: Palace manager Oliver Glasner said, “It was the Crystal Palace day. It was the day for our fans, and it just had to happen that we win.” Glasner has not only led Palace to its first major trophy but also landed Palace in the Europa League next season.
- Pep Guardiola: City manager Pep Guardiola said, “We did everything. Nothing to regret. We are sad because we didn’t win, but we played much better — better than against United last season.”
Implications
- First Major Trophy: The win marks Crystal Palace’s first major trophy in its 120-year history, ending a campaign that saw the team finish in the top 10 in the Premier League.
- Europa League Qualification: The FA Cup win secures Palace a spot in next season’s Europa League, a significant achievement for the team.
- City’s Troubled Season: The loss adds to Manchester City’s troubled season, which has seen them surrender the Premier League title and crash out of the Champions League in the playoffs ¹ ².