Crystal Palace claimed their first-ever major trophy with a sensational 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley, thanks to a decisive early strike from Eberechi Eze.
Eze found the net in the 16th minute to give Palace the lead, setting the tone for a dramatic contest. The South London club, long in pursuit of silverware, not only lifted the prestigious cup but also secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
The first half was packed with action and controversy. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson narrowly avoided a red card after handling the ball outside the box to deny Erling Haaland. However, VAR ruled that it did not constitute a clear goalscoring opportunity. Moments later, Henderson cemented his hero status by saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush.
Despite fielding an ultra-attacking line-up without a holding midfielder, City failed to break down Palace’s disciplined defence. Pep Guardiola’s side ends the season without a major trophy for the first time since his debut campaign in 2016–17.
Palace thought they had doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Daniel Muñoz scored from a tight angle, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Henderson continued his heroics late in the game, denying young talent Claudio Echeverri twice to preserve the historic win.
It’s a landmark triumph for Crystal Palace and a day their fans will never forget.
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