Crystal Palace made history at Wembley with a stunning 1-0 win over Manchester City to lift their first-ever major trophy, as Eberechi Eze’s early strike and Dean Henderson’s heroics sealed a dramatic FA Cup final victory.
Palace struck with their very first attack of the game, as Eze coolly slotted home in the 16th minute after a quick break, sending the Palace fans into raptures. From there, it was a backs-to-the-wall performance as Oliver Glasner’s side soaked up relentless City pressure.
The turning point of the match came moments later when Henderson charged out of his box to stop Erling Haaland, using his hand to deflect the ball. Referee Stuart Attwell initially allowed play to continue, and after a lengthy VAR review, the goalkeeper was deemed not to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity — a decision that left City frustrated and Palace breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Just minutes later, Henderson proved his worth again, diving low to his right to deny Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot, preserving Palace’s slender lead in an action-packed first half.
Daniel Muñoz thought he had doubled the lead early in the second half, only for VAR to chalk off the goal for offside in the build-up.
From there, City dominated possession and territory, but a disciplined and spirited Palace defence held firm. Haaland and substitute Kevin De Bruyne both went close, but Henderson remained untroubled for much of the closing stages thanks to the tireless work of the Palace backline.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations among the Palace players and fans, as the south London club not only claimed their first FA Cup title but also secured a place in next season’s Europa League.
“It’s unbelievable,” said manager Oliver Glasner. “We defended with everything we had. If you play this game ten times, maybe we win once — and today was that day. I’m so proud of the players and the staff. This is a special moment.”
For Manchester City, it was a rare disappointment under Pep Guardiola, who admitted his side were beaten by a team who took their chance and defended for their lives.
