Crystal Palace v Man City LIVE: FA Cup final result and reaction as Eagles lift cup for first time in history | OneFootball

Crystal Palace players celebrate after beating Manchester City at Wembley (Action Images via Reuters)

A heroic Crystal Palace performance downed Manchester City to claim the FA Cup and a first major trophy at Wembley Stadium.

Ebere Eze's first-half goal and Dean Henderson's penalty save proved vital moments for Oliver Glasner's side in a day of destiny for the Eagles.

Pep Guardiola will feel aggrieved after Henderson remained on the pitch, despite a VAR check, with the Eagles goalkeeper touching the ball outside the box and appearing to deny the Norwegian a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Daniel Munoz thought he had doubled Palace's lead in the second half, but Ismaila Sarr was offside after a VAR check.

And Guardiola could only throw on Phil Foden and a debut for Argentine youngster Claudio Echeverri, who was denied by Henderson late on.

Palace survived and held on for the greatest moment in their history.

Why Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph provides hope for the future of English football

A good two hours after the final whistle at Wembley, Crystal Palace staff were still bringing crates of beer into the dressing room, as the players started to emerge. Manager Oliver Glasner had already told them inside that he long ago felt this was a “special group”, who could do “impossible things”. This victory was certainly something that felt so agonisingly out of reach for the club for so long.

Why Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph provides hope for the future of English football

The Eagles won their first ever major trophy at Wembley and their victory over Man City will provide inspiration to other clubs in the pyramid

Miguel Delaney18 May 2025 10:34

Pep Guardiola only has himself to blame for his worst season as a manager

It was a display of brutal ruthlessness from Manchester City. Not, admittedly, in an FA Cup final when they had 58 touches inside the Crystal Palace box, 23 shots and one penalty yet scored no goals. But beforehand. Two of their own disappeared from the squad, Pep Guardiola’s cull removing Rico Lewis and James McAtee from the teamsheet.

Academy products were instead spared parts in another of the off-days that have pockmarked Guardiola’s worst season as a manager. It may end up being bookended by trophies, by the Community Shield and the Club World Cup, but City lacked the clinical streak their manager demonstrated. On a day when few of Guardiola’s decisions worked out, a manager who has fashioned many a historic feat instead played a part in one for Crystal Palace, their belated first major trophy, some 120 years after they were formed.

Chris Wilson18 May 2025 06:00

What the managers said

It’s a little late, but here’s the reaction from Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

“I can't believe it, we had to defend so much. The spirit and togetherness on the pitch was amazing. It was all about being patient, we analysed that if you give them the pocket then they are so good.

"We had to be patient, let them cross, defend and wait for the moment to attack.

"They are so good in their movements, from the 5-2 defeat we learned that if you give them the pocket we will lose. we usually attack more but we had to be patient and wait for the right moment.

"When they play with four attacking players it's difficult to defend, but in transition we knew we could create overloads. No winger likes to defend. It was a great goal.

“Tomorrow's training is already cancelled. The players want to cancel Monday too. Special credit to the players, they've never lost belief in me and the coaching staff,” he added.

Guardiola had this to say:

"We didn't score so congratulations to Crystal Palace for the victory - we did everything,” he says.

"Today, we were more aggressive. If you're not going to score goals, you're not going to win,” he adds.

On VAR decision to not send Dean Henderson off: "Ask the referee."

On clashing with Dean Henderson post match: "No, nothing."

On Erling Haaland giving Omar Marmoush the penalty: "I don't know, I didn't speak to them. They made a decision. They decide."

On Man City's performance, he adds: "They performed really well, much better than last season against Man Utd.

"Football sometimes is like this. At the end with Claudio Echeverri, we created a chance.

"We controlled really good in transitions.

"Yes, unfortunately we couldn't win, but congratulations Crystal Palace."

(The FA via Getty Images)

Chris Wilson18 May 2025 04:00

Ian Wright and Wayne Rooney lead fury at VAR controversy in FA Cup final: ‘Absolutely pathetic’

Wayne Rooney has called for the end of VAR after Dean Hendersonavoided a red card in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

The Crystal Palace goalkeeper touched the ball with his hand outside the penalty area with Erling Haaland sprinting towards the ball and goal.

Wright and Rooney lead fury at VAR controversy in FA Cup final: ‘Pathetic’

After Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson remained on the pitch against Man City, Rooney, Wright and a host of pundits reacted furiously to the decision of VAR Jarred Gillett

Chris Wilson18 May 2025 01:00

Why wasn’t Dean Henderson sent off in FA Cup final?

Dean Henderson avoided a red card against Manchester City in the FA Cup final after the Crystal Palace goalkeeper handled outside the box with Erling Haaland storming towards goal.

The VAR Jarred Gillett checked the incident after referee Stuart Attwell failed to penalise the goalkeeper, but he also deemed it not to be a goalscoring opportunity with the ball, after Henderson touched it, moving away from goal.

The VAR deemed concluded: “The direction Haaland was going made it a possible but not obvious goalscoring opportunity (GSO).”

Chris Wilson17 May 2025 23:30

Crystal Palace vs Man City player ratings as Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland struggle in FA Cup final shock

Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City to win the FA Cup and their first major trophy at Wembley.

Eberechi Eze scored the winning goal with Palace’s first attack of the game, catching Pep Guardiola’s dominant side on the counter.

Dean Henderson was fortunate to stay on the pitch after handling the ball outside the box to deny Erling Haaland.

But the Palace goalkeeper was the man of the match, saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush and making a number of fine stops.

Chris Wilson17 May 2025 23:00