Crystal Palace made history on Saturday May 17, 2025 by winning their first ever major trophy, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium.
An early goal from Eberechi Eze in the 16th minutte was enough to seal the victory for the South Londin side.
The midfielder capitalized on a quick break, slotting the ball past the Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega with precision.
In the first half, Manchester City had an opportunity to tie the score but missed a penalty that would have changed the game’s momentum. Despite controlling the ball and setting up multiple opportunities, City was unable to overcome Palace’s well-organised defending.
The victory marks a monumental moment in Crystal Palace’s history. The club had previously reached the FA Cup final twice—in 1990 and 2016—but lost both times to Manchester United. Saturday’s result delivered long-awaited silverware to Selhurst Park.
After the match, Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s discipline and defensive effort.
“I can’t believe it. We had to defend so much. The spirit and togetherness on the pitch was amazing,” Glasner said. “It was all about being patient. We analysed that if you give them the pocket then they are so good. 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.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also reacted to the result, acknowledging his team’s shortcomings in front of goal.
“We didn’t score, so congratulations to Crystal Palace for the victory—we did everything,” Guardiola said. “Today, we were more aggressive. If you’re not going to score goals, you’re not going to win.”
City’s chances of winning another domestic championship are dashed by the loss, which also increases the number of teams that can compete with them on the big stage.
Crystal Palace’s victory was met with jubilation among their supporters, as the club lifted the FA Cup for the first time in its 119-year history.
