Crystal Palace made history by winning their first-ever major trophy, defeating Manchester City in a stunning FA Cup final. The underdogs shocked fans with a brilliant performance, lifting the FA Cup and celebrating one of the biggest upsets in English football.
A Historic Day for Crystal Palace
FA Cup Crystal Palace created history by winning their first-ever major trophy after beating the mighty Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final. It was a day full of surprises, brave defending, and a little bit of luck. Eberechi Eze’s early goal made the difference as Palace held strong to lift the famous cup and secure a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Early Goal Gives Palace the Lead
FA Cup The game started with Manchester City attacking from the first minute. However, it was Crystal Palace who scored first—and it was their very first attack of the match. In the 16th minute, Daniel Munoz ran down the right wing and passed the ball into the middle. Eberechi Eze was ready and calmly placed the ball into the net.
That early goal was enough to shock City and give Palace the confidence they needed. Although City kept pushing hard, Palace’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson stood strong.
Drama in the First Half – Henderson’s Big Moments
FA Cup Dean Henderson became the hero for Palace in the first half. First, he came out of his goal and used his hand to stop a pass meant for Erling Haaland. The referee let the game continue, but the video assistant referee (VAR) reviewed the play. Luckily for Palace, Henderson was not given a red card because it wasn’t seen as stopping a clear goal chance.
Just minutes later, Manchester City earned a penalty when Tyrick Mitchell made contact with Bernardo Silva. Haaland handed the ball to Omar Marmoush, but Henderson made a brilliant save to keep Palace ahead.
As Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane said, “What you need to win a cup is a bit of luck—and that was a huge one.”
Strong Defense and More Saves in the Second Half
FA Cup In the second half, City kept attacking, but they couldn’t break through Palace’s defense. Palace thought they had scored a second goal in the 58th minute when Daniel Munoz scored from a tight angle. However, the goal was disallowed for offside.
Kevin De Bruyne had a chance to equalize in what may have been his last game at Wembley for City, but his shot flew over the goal. Young City player Claudio Echeverri was brought on late and had two good chances, but again, Henderson made fantastic saves to keep Palace in front.
Time-Wasting or Tactics? Guardiola and Henderson Speak
FA Cup At the end of the match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was seen speaking with Henderson. Later, Henderson explained: “He was upset about time-wasting. I told him, ‘You got the 10 minutes you wanted.’ No hard feelings.”
Guardiola admitted he was frustrated and said, “It’s time-wasting from the start. I understand in the final minutes, but not right from the beginning.”
Henderson, however, didn’t care much about the controversy. When asked about the handball and VAR check, he said, “Who cares? We won!”
What This Win Means for Crystal Palace
This victory is very special for Crystal Palace. Not only did they win their first major trophy, but they also earned a spot in the Europa League next season. That means teams like Brentford, Brighton, and Fulham will miss out on European football.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner said, “I can’t believe it. We defended with every part of our body. This team gave everything.”
Sky Sports’ Roy Keane summed it up best: “This is Crystal Palace’s day. Spirit, fight, belief, quality—they had it all.”
A New Chapter Begins
Crystal Palace’s win marks the start of a new chapter in their history. With young stars, a passionate manager, and a strong team spirit, they have proven that anything is possible in football.
For now, Palace fans will enjoy this historic moment. And after waiting so long for a trophy, they won’t forget this day anytime soon.