Match Report and Player Ratings: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City (FA Cup Final) | OneFootball

Manchester City’s final chance at a domestic trophy this season went up in smoke at Wembley as Crystal Palace pulled off an incredible smash-and-grab to lift their first piece of major silverware.

A dominant first-half from the Blues somehow saw Palace take a 1-0 lead into the break, as Eberechi Eze struck a terrific opener against the run of play and Erling Haaland allowed Omar Marmoush to take a penalty in City’s best chance to level, but Dean Henderson saved.

The pressure only grew in the second period but the Eagles held out to enjoy the greatest day in the club’s history, whilst Manchester City were left to rue perhaps the biggest disappointment in a season full of them.

City predictably started the game with near-total control of the ball, and created the first opening after five minutes through a deep Kevin de Bruyne cross which Haaland stretched to connect with and force Henderson into the game’s first save.

The pressure was mounting in the early stages, as Henderson was again called upon to beat away Josko Gvardiol’s header from a corner, then Tyrick Mitchell had to reach to stop Savinho reaching a cross and Manuel Akanji put another effort over.

So naturally, after all of that dominance, Palace scored first – a long ball up to Jean-Philippe Mateta stuck with the Frenchman, he fed Daniel Munoz, and the Colombian’s cross was clinically volleyed home by Eze for a goal massively against the run of play.

Next came a moment of controversy, as a long ball was met by Henderson’s hand narrowly outside his area – City wanted a red card, but the fact that Haaland would have been heading away from goal had he got to the ball saved the Englishman.

They got the next big decision just after half an hour though – Mitchell sliding in on Bernardo Silva in the box, VAR confirming the call after a brief check, only for Marmoush to see his kick parried out by Henderson.

The disaster didn’t change City’s stranglehold on the play, as Jeremy Doku became the latest player to be repelled by Palace’s shot-stopper, and Kevin de Bruyne rushed to score on the rebound and blazed over.

As if City needed any more warning of the situation they were in, they came very close to going two behind at the start of the second-half when a ball bobbling around in the box was eventually smashed home by Munoz, but the Blues’ blushes were spared when VAR ruled that Ismaila Sarr had touched the ball from an offside position in the build-up.

Pep Guardiola had shocked everybody with his starting team, and produced another surprise when debutant Claudio Echeverri was one of his first two substitutes in the game, with the Argentine quickly drawing yet another Henderson save inside the box.

City grew desperate in the closing stages but even with ten minutes added on, no equaliser was forthcoming, leaving the fight for Champions League football the only thing that could prevent this season going down as an unmitigated disaster.

Here is how we rated the players in Manchester City’s second straight FA Cup final defeat!

Player Ratings

Starting XI

Stefan Ortega – 5.5

Can’t be blamed for Eberechi Eze’s sweetly-struck sizzler. Kept out a Jean-Philippe Mateta flick which was close enough to him.

Manuel Akanji – 3

Played confidently on the ball but Eze escaped him to open the scoring. Got away with being at fault for another one when Crystal Palace’s goal was disallowed from a throw-in which his blunder conceded.

Ruben Dias – 5

Always throws himself wholeheartedly into a physical tussle with a big striker, and had an evenly-matched encounter with Mateta here.

Josko Gvardiol – 6

Had a lot of loose balls to mop up given the offensive nature of Manchester City’s midfield, and did so well. Had to do much of the progression with his passing.

Nico O’Reilly – 4

We saw in the league game between the teams at the Etihad Stadium that Palace know they can get in behind him when he goes forward, and they did it to good effect on their opener. Tried to knit play in the Palace penalty area.

Bernardo Silva – 4.5

Won some good second balls in the middle but that usual lack of forward drive hindered the team.

Kevin de Bruyne – 4

Fans would have worried about him lining up in a deeper role prior to kick-off, but he actually did some good work at times as he floated around. The Belgian had more difficulty pulling off his usual magic higher up the pitch, and only became worse as things went on and City’s plight grew.

Savinho – 3.5

Saw plenty of the ball, particularly in the first half, but rarely threatened to go past his man or deliver a dangerous cross. Should have been withdrawn long before he did.

Omar Marmoush – 3

Provided a few decent linking touches but the only aspect of his performance which will go into the history books is his penalty miss. Anonymous in the second period before his substitution.

Jeremy Doku – 4.5

More threatening than his wing partner, and did force Dean Henderson into a big stop, but the feeling amongst fans that he doesn’t do enough given the areas he gets himself in will not be dispelled after today.

Erling Haaland – 4

Passed up what would have been by far his biggest opportunity when he allowed Omar Marmoush to take the penalty. Rarely involved in the game.

Substitutes

Claudio Echeverri – 5.5

Didn’t shy away in his shock first appearance, getting on the ball a lot. Maybe ought to have scored his big chance.

Phil Foden – 4.5

Looked a little sluggish, as he has for far too much of this season.

Ilkay Gundogan – N/A