Eberechi Eze fires Crystal Palace to historic FA Cup triumph over Manchester City
In a stunning upset that will go down in English football folklore, Crystal Palace lifted their first major trophy in club history with a 1-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal sealed a landmark win for Oliver Glasner’s side, who combined clinical finishing with heroic defending to deny Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team.
Crystal Palace, often regarded as underdogs in major competitions, ended a century-long wait for silverware by toppling treble-winners Manchester City in dramatic fashion. Their triumph not only crowned them FA Cup champions for the first time, but also secured a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League, shutting the European door on contenders like Fulham, Brighton, Bournemouth, and Brentford.
Manager Oliver Glasner described the moment as "unbelievable" and credited the unity and determination of his squad:
“The goal was the first time we were in their half and then we just defended with every single part of the body. I'm really proud of the team and the whole staff.”
How the match unfolded
City dominated the early exchanges, testing Dean Henderson with efforts from Erling Haaland and Josko Gvardiol. But it was Palace who struck first, capitalising on their very first attack. Daniel Munoz broke down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross for Eze, who timed his run perfectly to slot past Ortega and ignite wild scenes among the Palace faithful.
City’s misery was compounded shortly after when goalkeeper Dean Henderson appeared to handle the ball outside his area to deny Haaland. VAR reviewed the incident but ruled that Henderson hadn’t denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane remarked,
“What you need to win a cup is a bit of luck and that was a huge one.”
Moments later, Tyrick Mitchell conceded a penalty for a foul on Bernardo Silva, although replays showed minimal contact. Omar Marmoush stepped up, only for Henderson to dive low and save his powerful strike—preserving Palace’s lead and momentum.
Defensive grit and VAR drama
Palace thought they had doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Munoz found the net from a tight angle, but VAR intervened again, ruling the goal out for offside after the ball deflected off Ismaila Sarr in the buildup.
As the minutes ticked on, City ramped up the pressure. Kevin De Bruyne, in what could be his final Wembley appearance for the club, lashed a shot over the bar after Jeremy Doku’s strike was parried. Guardiola introduced teenage prodigy Claudio Echeverri, who twice forced saves from Henderson in the dying moments.
Despite 10 minutes of added time, Palace held firm, with Henderson—named Man of the Match—producing save after save to deny City a late equaliser. Guardiola appeared to confront the Palace keeper post-match, citing time-wasting frustrations. Henderson later shrugged off the moment, saying:
“I said, ‘You got the 10 minutes you wanted.’ No hard feelings.”
A night of firsts and glory
The final whistle sparked euphoric celebrations among Palace players, staff, and fans. The club, often overshadowed by the Premier League's elite, had finally etched its name in football history.
Sky Sports' Roy Keane summed up the moment best:
“Today is not about Man City. This is Crystal Palace’s day. There are kids in disbelief thinking, ‘Is this the real Crystal Palace?’ I’m sure it won’t be another 100 years until they win a trophy.”
What it means for European football
With Palace’s FA Cup triumph, they earn direct entry into the UEFA Europa League. This also reshapes the continental qualification landscape for English clubs. Now, sixth place will also guarantee a Europa League spot, while seventh—currently Nottingham Forest—will enter the UEFA Conference League.
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