Crystal Palace claimed a first ever major trophy by winning the 2025 FA Cup Final with Ebere Eze’s goal the difference against Manchester City at Wembley.
Timeline;
- 0: Palace kick-off with Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada returning to the starting line-up
- 5: Henderson makes an excellent stop at his back post to keep out Haaland
- 11: Palace’s goalkeeper makes his second save, pushing out Gvardiol’s close-range header
- 15: GOAL – EZE. WITH PALACE’S FIRST SHOT IN THE FINAL EZE CONVERTS AFTER MUÑOZ’S PERFECT CUT-BACK.
- 23: Henderson crucially beats Haaland to the ball to halt the run of City’s No. 9.
- 34: City are awarded a penalty, but Marmoush’s effort is superbly kept out by a strong save from Henderson.
- 42: Henderson denies Doku with a stunning reflex save
- HT: Palace 1-0 Manchester City
- 49: Eze’s shot is blocked from close range
- 61: Muñoz’s goal is disallowed after VAR shows Sarr to be offside in build-up
- 90: Ten minutes of injury time are indicated
- 95: Henderson makes a vital save to deny Echeverri
- FT: Palace 1-0 Manchester City – CRYSTAL PALACE WIN THE 2025 FA CUP!
A new, golden chapter in club history was written as Oliver Glasner’s team produced a heroic defensive effort, with Dean Henderson’s stunning penalty save another memorable highlight of the perfect afternoon.
It was a performance that summed up everything Glasner and his team have been about this season: brave, intense, with moments of high quality scattered throughout.
Even twenty minutes before kick-off Wembley had an electric energy, with the national stadium final verging on feeling a home game for loud and proud South London support.
Glasner had made two changes from the team that comfortably won at Tottenham, Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada replacing Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes in midfield.
Amidst an almost hysterical atmosphere, Palace started solidly, but it was City who had the first chance.
Kevin De Bruyne’s dangerous cross found Erling Haaland at the back post, only for Dean Henderson to block the ball from close-range. Marc Guéhi was then required to cut out another wicked ball from the Belgian, while Palace’s No.1 had to react sharply to push away Josko Gvardiol’s header.
His defensive partner Manuel Akanji, also flicked a header narrowly over, but the Eagles would soon pounce with their very first chance of the game.
As soon as Jean-Philippe Mateta released Daniel Muñoz down the right wing you could feel something special was happening.
The Colombian’s cross fell perfectly for Eze, who swept home a shot that gave Stefan Ortega no chance and sent the red and blue half of the stadium into a collective frenzy.
City were stunned while Eze celebrated his third magical moment at Wembley in as many months, after his first England goal and semi-final thunderbolt against Aston Villa.
A nervy moment followed midway through the first half when Henderson narrowly won a race to the ball with Haaland, just about forcing the Norwegian wide – with replays confirming he had not denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
After a drop in tempo, City’s next opportunity came in the 33rd minute when Tyrick Mitchell brought down the charging Bernardo Silva in the penalty area. After a pausing temporarily, Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot – with Omar Marmoush stepping up.
The forward stumbled in his run-up but Henderson made no mistake, diving superbly low to his right to make a brilliant save – once again leading to bedlam behind him in the Palace end.
Not long before the interval, Hendo was busy again. Jérémy Doku cut inside before producing a wonderful curling effort heading for the top corner, only for the Palace stopper to fling out a left arm. That was enough to get the Eagles to half-time, which was greeted by a full-throated roar from the Palace end.
Doku again went close with a curling effort immediately after the break, as the second half threatened to continue with a similar pattern.
But Palace went mightily close to doubling the lead when Eze’s volley was blocked after Richards’ long-throw caused chaos.
At the other end Daichi Kamada was the next body in a red and blue shirt to throw his body on the line to stop Silva from close range.
The Palace end erupted again just before the hour mark when Muñoz squeezed home after a goalmouth scramble – only for VAR to cut short Eagles’ joy with Ismaïla Sarr touching the ball from an offside position.
With Guéhi struggling after taking a ball to head, Glasner introduced Jefferson Lerma into the defence, while City were still struggling to get in-behind Palace’s back three.
Pep Guardiola threw on Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri, while Glasner introduced Eddie Nketiah to proceedings.
Haaland then headed over, as City looked increasingly desperate, while the Palace end continued to bounce with noise and energy.
That’s not to say Henderson wasn’t tested in the closing stages, making an excellent stop to deny Echeverri. The excellent Muñoz then went close again whipping a shot wide of Ortega.
Agonisingly ten minutes of added-on time were played – but the magnificent defence rearguard held on without incident. Attwell finally blew his whistle to end a game that will long in the memory of those lucky enough to witness it.
Crystal Palace are your 2025 FA Cup winners.
Teams
Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi (Lerma, 60), Muñoz, Kamada, Wharton (Hughes, 86), Mitchell, Eze, Sarr, Mateta (Nketiah, 77)
Subs: Turner (GK), Clyne, Chilwell, Ward, Devenny, Esse.
Man City: Ortega (GK), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Bernardo Silva (Gundogan, 88), De Bruyne, Savinho (Foden, 75), Marmoush (Echeverri, 75), Doku, Haaland.
Subs: Ederson (GK), Grealish, Nico, Reis, Nunes, Khusanov.
AS IT HAPPENED
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Match Details
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
- Saturday, 17th May
- 16:30 BST
- FA Cup Final
- Wembley Stadium
- Live audio commentary on Palace TV+