Wembley, England: Crystal Palace made history on Saturday after beating Manchester City 1–0 to win their first-ever major trophy in a dramatic FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium.
Eberechi Eze scored the winner with a stunning 16th-minute volley, capitalising on a well-placed cross from Daniel Muñoz to give the Eagles an early lead they never relinquished.
Former Manchester United Goalkeeper Dean Henderson delivered a man-of-the-match performance, including a crucial save from Omar Marmoush’s first-half penalty, as Palace soaked up pressure to seal a famous victory.
The win marks a monumental milestone for the South London side, who had lost two previous FA Cup finals in 1990 and 2016. It also caps off an extraordinary turnaround under Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, appointed just 15 months ago.
Palace not only lifted the prestigious FA Cup but also secured a spot in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League and the Community Shield against Premier League champions Liverpool.
The result, however, spelled disaster for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who finished the season without a trophy for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.
The Eagles’ cup run was marked by tactical discipline and team unity. They beat Wolves 2–0 in the semi-finals to book their place at Wembley.
Manchester City, meanwhile, had cruised past Chelsea 1–0 in their own semi-final but failed to find the cutting edge when it mattered most.
The FA Cup loss compounded a dismal season that saw City knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid and are currently sixth in the Premier League, a position that may jeopardize their Champions League status for next season.
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