Crystal Palace etched their name into English football history with a heroic 1-0 victory over Manchester City to win the 2025 FA Cup — their first-ever major trophy. The crystal palace delivered a performance defined by tactical discipline, fearless defending, and moments of dazzling individual brilliance, capping off an unforgettable afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
The match-winner came from Eberechi Eze, whose composed first-half strike ignited a frenzy among the red and blue faithful. But it was Dean Henderson’s commanding performance between the sticks — punctuated by a sensational penalty save — that ensured the trophy headed to South London. Manager Oliver Glasner, in just his first season at the helm, masterminded the win with a game plan that nullified City’s threat and exploited key moments.
Crystal Palace fans turned Wembley into a sea of noise and color long before kick-off, and their side matched that energy from the outset. Glasner’s men absorbed early City pressure and responded with a clinical counterattack that resulted in the game’s only goal — a fitting finale to an extraordinary campaign.
Crystal Palace EZE’S MAGIC STRIKE STUNS GUARDIOLA’S MEN
Manchester City began with intent, dominating possession and creating early chances. Kevin De Bruyne’s cross found Erling Haaland at the back post only for Dean Henderson to produce a brilliant close-range save. Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji also came close with headers, but the Eagles stood firm.
Crystal Palace’s breakthrough came against the run of play in the 20th minute. Jean-Philippe Mateta fed Daniel Muñoz down the right, and the Colombian’s cross found Eze unmarked in the box. With composure and precision, the England international slotted the ball past Stefan Ortega, sending the Crystal Palace supporters into raptures.
Eze’s goal marked his third standout moment at Wembley in as many months, following his England debut and a semi-final stunner against Aston Villa. His name now joins the annals of Wembley folklore, with a performance that epitomized Crystal Palace’s rise under Glasner.
HENDERSON HEROICS AND VAR DRAMA
Dean Henderson’s afternoon was the stuff of legends. Not only did he keep Haaland and De Bruyne at bay, but his defining moment came in the 33rd minute when Tyrick Mitchell brought down Bernardo Silva in the box. With Haaland stepping aside, Omar Marmoush took the penalty — only for Henderson to dive low to his right and deny him superbly.
Just minutes earlier, controversy struck when Henderson raced out to challenge Haaland and appeared to handle the ball outside the box. VAR reviewed the incident, but no red card was issued, much to the fury of Pep Guardiola and City fans. Henderson later dismissed the incident in his post-match interview, saying, “The ball carried into my box and I knew it was fine — who cares?”
The goalkeeper, visibly emotional, dedicated the win to his late father. “I lost my dad at the start of the season, but he was with me today — every kick of the game. I dedicate that win to him,” he told BBC One.
SECOND-HALF RESISTANCE AND NARROW ESCAPES
City piled on the pressure in the second half, but Crystal Palace’s defense — marshaled by Marc Guéhi and reinforced by Jefferson Lerma — repelled wave after wave of attacks. Jérémy Doku looked dangerous, firing two curling efforts narrowly wide, while Haaland failed to convert several half-chances.
Crystal Palace nearly doubled their lead when Eze’s volley was blocked after Chris Richards’ long throw, and Muñoz thought he had scored a second — only for VAR to rule out the goal due to Ismaila Sarr being offside in the build-up.
In the final moments, substitute Claudio Echeverri forced another fine save from Henderson, and Guardiola threw on Phil Foden in a desperate attempt to salvage the game. But Crystal Palace held firm through ten agonizing minutes of added time, with the backline producing a masterclass in last-ditch defending.
FULL-TIME ECSTASY AND POST-MATCH REACTION
At the final whistle, the Crystal Palace bench exploded onto the pitch, while the stands erupted in jubilation. Jean-Philippe Mateta interrupted Henderson’s interview with a scream of “HE IS THE BEST!”, capturing the sheer joy and disbelief of the moment.
Manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s bravery and tactical discipline, stating, “This team deserved it — they gave everything. To beat a team like Manchester City, you need heart, and today we had that in abundance.”
Pep Guardiola, on the other hand, was visibly frustrated. The City boss questioned the VAR decision that allowed Henderson to remain on the pitch and criticized his team’s lack of sharpness in the second half. “We didn’t turn up when it mattered,” he said bluntly.
But for Crystal Palace, none of that mattered. The Eagles had conquered Wembley and made history, ending their 119-year wait for silverware in style. Their name is now etched into FA Cup lore, a symbol of resilience, belief, and a new era of ambition.
