In a stunning display of resilience and tactical acumen, Crystal Palace clinched their first major trophy in their 164-year history, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Eberechi Eze’s first-half goal proved decisive in a match filled with drama, controversy, and heroic performances that will be remembered for generations by Palace supporters.
The Defining Moment: Eze’s Strike
The most significant moment of the match came in the first half when Eberechi Eze found the back of the net with a clinical finish that ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides. The goal showcased Eze’s exceptional talent, which has made him one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking midfielders. His performance throughout the match demonstrated why he has become Palace’s talisman, consistently rising to the occasion in crucial moments.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner’s tactical approach perfectly neutralized City’s formidable attack while allowing Palace’s creative forces to flourish on the counter-attack. The Austrian coach, who took over midway through the season, has transformed Palace’s fortunes with his pragmatic yet progressive approach.
Henderson’s Heroics: The Penalty Save
If Eze’s goal was the match’s defining offensive moment, then Dean Henderson’s penalty save just before halftime provided the defensive equivalent. After Tyrick Mitchell was judged to have fouled Bernardo Silva in the penalty area, City had a golden opportunity to equalize. In a surprising move, Omar Marmoush stepped up to take the spot kick instead of prolific goalscorer Erling Haaland.
The Egyptian forward’s approach was hesitant, taking “a lot of time with the ball – stop… take the ball and kick,” as Guardiola later described, seemingly increasing the pressure on himself. Henderson read Marmoush’s intentions perfectly, diving to his right to make a crucial save that maintained Palace’s advantage heading into the break.
This save was just one of several heroic interventions from Henderson throughout the match. The England goalkeeper, who joined Palace at the beginning of the season, produced multiple impressive stops to deny City’s relentless attacks, particularly in the second half as Guardiola’s men desperately pushed for an equalizer.
The Penalty Controversy: Why Haaland Didn’t Take It
One of the most perplexing aspects of the final was the decision to have Marmoush take the penalty instead of Haaland, City’s designated spot-kick specialist with a remarkable conversion rate. BBC pundit Wayne Rooney initially speculated during the halftime analysis that the decision might have been predetermined by Guardiola.
However, in his post-match comments, Guardiola revealed that the choice was made on the pitch rather than being his instruction: “I don’t know. I didn’t speak with them. They take the decision. It’s always [like that] around the penalties. I like the guys who take the initiative. And yeah, they decide.”
When pressed further in his press conference, the City manager elaborated: “We didn’t speak, so they are things in the meetings that are already for them. For that moment, for the free-kicks and penalties, it’s about how you’re feeling, it’s how you feel. They saw that Omar was ready to take it.”
This explanation raises questions about City’s on-field decision-making process in crucial moments. Haaland’s decision to hand the responsibility to Marmoush, who had less experience in high-pressure penalty situations, may have cost City their best chance at equalizing.
The Henderson Incident: Should He Have Been Sent Off?
Another major controversial moment occurred earlier in the match when Henderson was seen handling the ball outside his penalty area to prevent Haaland from reaching it as the Norwegian striker approached the Palace goal. Many City supporters felt this should have resulted in a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
However, after a VAR review, officials determined that Haaland would have taken the ball too far wide of the goal and that there was a Palace defender in line with the striker, meaning it did not meet the criteria for a clear goalscoring opportunity. This decision allowed Henderson to remain on the field, a crucial reprieve for Palace given his subsequent heroics.
The incident became a significant talking point after the match, with many City fans and analysts suggesting that the outcome might have been different had Henderson been dismissed. Given his importance to Palace’s defensive resilience throughout the match, his continued presence was undoubtedly vital to their historic victory.
The Post-Match Altercation: Guardiola vs. Henderson
Perhaps the most dramatic off-pitch moment came after the final whistle when Guardiola approached Henderson during Palace’s celebrations, visibly upset about something that had occurred during the match. Initially, the content of their heated exchange remained a mystery to viewers.
However, expert lip-reader Jeremy Freeman later revealed what was said during the confrontation. According to Freeman’s analysis, Guardiola approached Henderson and said: “You didn’t deserve that. Disgrace.”
Henderson’s response referenced the extended stoppage time, replying: “You still had your 10 minutes,” before repeating “10 minutes” three times. Guardiola continued his protest, stating: “It’s not fair play. You should not – it’s not fair.”
This exchange highlights the intense emotions that followed the match, with Guardiola clearly frustrated not only by the result but also by what he perceived as unsportsmanlike conduct from Henderson. The goalkeeper’s reference to “10 minutes” suggests there may have been complaints about time-wasting tactics, a common point of contention in closely contested cup finals.
Guardiola’s Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny
In the aftermath of the defeat, fans and analysts began questioning some of Guardiola’s key decisions during the match. Two particular aspects of his management came under scrutiny: his substitution timing and his starting lineup choices.
Many supporters felt that Guardiola waited too long to make impactful changes, particularly concerning Bernardo Silva and Savinho. Silva was only substituted in the 88th minute despite appearing fatigued earlier in the second half. Similarly, Savinho played 75 minutes despite struggling to make an impact against Palace’s resilient defense.
One fan commented: “88th minute is when he’s finally taking off Bernardo honestly you deserve this loss Pep,” while another added: “Playing Savinho for that long didn’t help. Offers nothing but running into the first man.”
There was also criticism of Guardiola’s initial selection, with some questioning the decision to start both Savinho and Jeremy Doku, two similar wide players, against Palace’s compact defensive setup. “Pep single handedly losing this game. Wasn’t the right matchup to start both Doku and Savinho,” observed one supporter.
Despite these criticisms, Guardiola maintained that his team’s performance was actually an improvement over last season’s FA Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to Manchester United. “We were much, much better,” he insisted in his post-match comments, suggesting that the result did not reflect the quality of City’s play.
Palace’s Missing Hero: Adam Wharton’s Absence
Among the celebrations at Wembley, one key Palace player was notably absent from the trophy-lifting ceremony. Midfielder Adam Wharton, who had been instrumental in Palace’s performance before being substituted in the second half, was forced to miss the jubilant scenes on the pitch.
Wharton had been struck on the back of the head by a powerful shot from Kevin De Bruyne earlier in the half. Though he initially continued playing, he was later removed from action after also enduring a hard tackle from Claudio Echeverri. According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, Wharton was undergoing concussion protocols while his teammates celebrated their historic achievement, and consequently did not receive his winner’s medal during the ceremony.
This unfortunate circumstance was particularly cruel given Wharton’s importance to Palace’s success and the fact that, at just 21 years old, this represented the first major trophy of his career. The England international, who joined Palace from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024, had overcome an ankle injury that kept him out of Palace’s previous league match against Tottenham to play a crucial role in the final.
City’s Season Unravels: A Trophyless Campaign
For Manchester City, the defeat marks a significant downturn in their recent fortunes. The loss means they will end the 2024-25 season without a trophy for the first time since 2016-17, a remarkable run that had established them as England’s dominant footballing force under Guardiola’s leadership.
City’s unexpected struggle this season extends beyond the FA Cup. They currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League with just two matches remaining, though they do have a game in hand on their rivals. The top five teams qualify for next season’s Champions League, meaning City must win both of their remaining fixtures against Bournemouth (home) and Fulham (away) to guarantee their participation in Europe’s elite competition next season.
This dramatic decline in performance has prompted speculation about potential changes at the Etihad Stadium this summer, with reports suggesting that Guardiola might be planning a significant squad overhaul.
According to reports in The Mirror, City are already preparing to respond aggressively to their disappointing season with major reinforcements in the transfer market. The club is reportedly willing to spend as much as ÂŁ180 million to secure the signings of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders.
Wirtz, one of Europe’s most coveted young talents, is being pursued by several elite clubs including Liverpool and Bayern Munich. However, City are reportedly undeterred by Leverkus
