Crystal Palace lifted their first major trophy in the club’s 119-year history with a dramatic 1–0 win over Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
An early goal from Eberechi Eze and a string of crucial saves from goalkeeper Dean Henderson sealed the victory and sent the South London club into European competition next season.
For Palace, the win represents the culmination of
decades of ambition. For the neutral, it was a reminder of the FA Cup’s enduring ability to produce unexpected heroes.
Eze Strikes Early
The match was only 16 minutes old when Palace stunned the holders. Right-back Daniel Muñoz broke down the right and sent in a low cross. Eze arrived late into the box and struck the ball first time with precision, steering it past Ederson and into the far corner.
Wembley erupted in red and blue. Eze ran to the corner flag in celebration, joined by teammates who sensed they had just taken a major step towards history. “I couldn’t breathe!”, he said, “City keep the ball so well, you don’t get many chances. I just tried to hit it clean and thankfully it went in.”
The goal gave Palace something to protect, and from that point onward, they set about doing just that with remarkable discipline.
Henderson’s Penalty Save
Manchester City dominated possession and quickly began to apply pressure. Their best opportunity to level came before half-time, when Bernado Silva was brought down in the box.
Omar Marmoush took the responsibility but saw his effort saved by Dean Henderson, who dived low to his right to deny the equaliser. It was the first penalty save in an FA Cup Final since 2010 and proved to be a decisive moment in the match.
“I knew I would save it,” Henderson said, “We had a feeling it would be our day today. The manager got a game plan and we executed it. We deserve this so much.”
That save not only kept Palace ahead but seemed to increase belief throughout the team. From that moment on, every block, interception and clearance was met with a roar from the Palace supporters.
VAR Controversy Sparks Frustration
The match was not without controversy. In the 31st minute, Henderson again found himself in the spotlight when he rushed out of his penalty area to intercept a long ball directed toward Haaland.
Replays showed the ball may have touched his hand just outside the box, but after a VAR check, the officials opted against issuing a red card. Haaland’s direction of travel made it a goal scoring opportunity not an ‘obvious’ goal scoring opportunity.
City players and coaching staff were visibly frustrated, with Pep Guardiola animated on the touchline. However, the decision stood and Henderson remained on the pitch to continue what would become a man-of-the-match performance.
City’s Pressure Meets a Wall
As expected, Manchester City controlled the majority of the match in terms of territory and possession. They ended the game with over 75% of the ball and more than 20 shots, but few were clear-cut chances.
Palace, led by centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi, held their line expertly and forced City to take shots from distance or deliver from wide areas. When City did find space, Henderson was there to deal with it.
Substitutes Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri both had late efforts saved, while Haaland was limited to a handful of half-chances as Palace defended with numbers and composure.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenge. “Congratulations to Crystal Palace on their first FA Cup,” he said. “It is history. We played a good defensive game and controlled the transitions, and incredible threat except the goal.”
A Historic Moment for Palace
At full-time, the Palace players sank to their knees, overcome by emotion. The club had previously reached the FA Cup Final twice—in 1990 and 2016—losing both times to Manchester United. This time, against the other Manchester outfit and one of Europe’s most dominant clubs, they held on.
COME ONNNNNNNNN#CPFC pic.twitter.com/zPF5q0IGPm
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 17, 2025
Captain Joel Ward and co-captain Marc Guéhi lifted the trophy together to the sound of “Glad All Over” echoing around Wembley. Manager Oliver Glasner, who joined the club earlier this season, praised his team’s spirit.
“I can’t really believe it,” he said. “If you play this game ten times, we win it once and that happened today. We scored the first time we were in their half and then we defended with every single phase of the body and a great goalkeeper, a great mentality and togetherness.”
European Football Secured
As well as lifting the FA Cup, Crystal Palace’s win guarantees them a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League. It will be their first appearance in a major European competition since 1998, when they competed in the now-defunct Intertoto Cup.
For Palace fans, this is uncharted territory. The club will now prepare for a busy summer as they look to strengthen the squad ahead of a campaign that will include domestic and continental football.
Celebrations and Reflection
Palace fans celebrated long into the night, with players and supporters sharing emotional scenes on the pitch and in the stands. The club is expected to host a parade through South London in the coming days to mark the historic achievement.
The win was all the more special given the quality of the opposition. Manchester City had been tipped as heavy favourites going into the match, and had won 14 major trophies under Guardiola since 2017. Palace’s odds to win the FA Cup at the start of the season had been as high as 100/1.
But on the day, they outplayed, outlasted, and ultimately overcame the reigning champions. The FA Cup once again delivered a fairytale—and this time, it was Crystal Palace who wrote the final chapter.
