- Eze and Henderson lead Palace to FA Cup glory.
- City fall as Palace lift historic first FA Cup.
- Underdogs Palace stun City at Wembley.
Crystal Palace etched their name into English football history by stunning Manchester City 1-0 in the 2025 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Eberechi Eze’s early strike and Dean Henderson’s remarkable goalkeeping display secured the South London club’s first-ever major trophy in its 120-year existence.
A Landmark Triumph for Crystal Palace
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Crystal Palace captured their maiden FA Cup crown with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the reigning champions, Manchester City.
Eberechi Eze netted the only goal of the encounter in the 16th minute, capping off a swift and incisive counter-attack engineered by Jean-Philippe Mateta and intelligently assisted by Daniel Munoz.
Dean Henderson’s Heroics Between the Posts
Dean Henderson delivered a masterclass in goalkeeping, producing six vital saves that proved decisive in Palace’s historic victory.
Perhaps most crucially, he thwarted Omar Marmoush’s penalty in the 36th minute, preserving the Eagles’ slender lead.
His extraordinary reflexes and commanding presence earned him the Man of the Match accolade.
VAR Decision Sparks Controversy
Controversy struck midway through the match when Henderson appeared to handle the ball outside his penalty area while charging down Erling Haaland.
After a thorough review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), officials ruled that the incident did not meet the threshold for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and thus, no red card was issued.
Tactical Brilliance from Oliver Glasner
Manager Oliver Glasner masterminded a tactical blueprint that nullified City’s attacking firepower.
By instructing his players to absorb pressure and pounce on the break, Glasner exploited the spaces left by City’s aggressive forward line.
Also Read: Crystal Palace Beat Aston Villa 3-0 to Book Their Third-ever FA Cup Final
On the opposite end, Pep Guardiola’s uncharacteristically reckless setup featuring an ultra-offensive formation devoid of a traditional holding midfielder—left City’s backline exposed and ultimately cost them the trophy.
End of an Era? Manchester City’s Disappointing Campaign
This defeat confirms Manchester City’s first trophy-less campaign since the 2016-2017 season.
Currently positioned sixth in the Premier League, Guardiola’s side now faces immense pressure to salvage a Champions League berth in their final league clashes against Bournemouth and Fulham.
The defeat adds further scrutiny to City’s faltering season.
Match Summary: Key Statistics
Final Score: Crystal Palace 1 – 0 Manchester City
Goalscorer: Eberechi Eze (16th minute)
Man of the Match: Dean Henderson
Match Attendance: 84,163 spectators
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Weather Conditions: Clear and sunny skies
Your Turn: Voice Your Opinion
What do you make of Crystal Palace’s unforgettable FA Cup triumph? Was it tactical genius, sheer grit, or Manchester City’s own undoing?
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