Crystal Palace are 2025 FA Cup after a first half goal by Eberechi Eze was enough to give the Eagles a shock 1-0 win over Manchester City at a packed Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The title is the club’s first in its 119-year history.
While it is Eze that got the all-important goal, goalkeeper Dean Henderson most certainly was the centre of attention from kick-off till full-time, denying Erling Haaland on the volley from close range after only five minutes before being fortunate to remain on the field moments after Eze’s opener.
Just before the controversial moment, Ortega was on hand to keep City in the game by making a point-blank save to deny Ismaila Sarr from doubling Crystal Palace’s lead 20 minutes into the game.
Four minutes later and Haaland was through on goal, with Henderson rushing out of his goal to palm the ball away from the City striker’s outstretched foot at the edge of the Palace box – with match officials seeing no foul against the Palace keeper in a situation that would have seen him get sent off.
When consulted to review the contentious moment, VAR decided that, though Henderson handled the ball outside the Palace area, the direction of ball meant it wasn’t a clear goalscoring chance for Haaland, much to the City players frustration.
City would get a chance to make those frustrations go away after being awarded a penalty by Stuart Attwell in the 33rd minute when Bernardo Silva was brought down in the area by Tyrick Mitchell, only for Henderson to save Omar Marmoush’s spot-kick and the subsequent Haaland shot on the rebound.
Pep Guardiola’s men laid siege on Palace in the second half in search of a way back into the final but were met by Henderson who left the Cityzens frustrated with save after save, most notably from a chance by City debutant Claudio Echeverri, to keep Palace ahead.
Oliver Glasner’s side thought they had made the Cup secure when Munoz stole in at the near post to smash home the second after his initial shot deflected off Sarr towards goal, only for VAR to rule out the goal as Sarr was offside when the ball hit him.
City continued to create chances but it was not to be their day as Crystal Palace held on to win a first major silverware in their history, and qualify for next season’s UEFA Europa League. For City, they finish the season without a trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.