Crystal Palace Stuns Manchester City to Win the FA Cup Final
In a stunning upset at Wembley Stadium on May 17, 2025, Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup. Eberechi Eze's first-half goal was enough to secure the victory, marking a historic moment for the club and their fans.
The match was filled with drama, including a missed penalty by Manchester City and a disallowed goal for Crystal Palace. Here's a detailed look at the key moments and highlights from the game.
Match Summary
The 2025 FA Cup Final saw Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, face off against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Crystal Palace adopted a 3-4-2-1 formation, while Manchester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1. The referee for the match was Stuart Attwell.
The game kicked off at 16:30 local time. Here's a timeline of the major events:
- 16': Eberechi Eze scores for Crystal Palace, assisted by Daniel Muñoz.
- 33': Manchester City earns a penalty after a foul on Bernardo Silva.
- 36': Omar Marmoush misses the penalty for Manchester City, with Dean Henderson making the save.
- 58': Daniel Muñoz scores, but the goal is disallowed due to an offside.
- 61': Jefferson Lerma replaces Marc Guéhi for Crystal Palace.
- 66': Nico O'Reilly receives a yellow card for Manchester City.
- 75': Bernardo Silva gets a yellow card for Manchester City.
- 76': Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri replace Savinho and Omar Marmoush for Manchester City.
- 78': Eddie Nketiah replaces Jean-Philippe Mateta for Crystal Palace.
- 82': Rúben Dias receives a yellow card for Manchester City.
- 85': Kevin De Bruyne gets a yellow card for Manchester City.
- 87': Will Hughes replaces Adam Wharton for Crystal Palace.
- 88': İlkay Gündoğan replaces Bernardo Silva for Manchester City.
- 90+1': Dean Henderson receives a yellow card for Crystal Palace.
- 90+4': Claudio Echeverri gets a yellow card for Manchester City.
The final score was Crystal Palace 1, Manchester City 0.
Team Lineups and Statistics
Crystal Palace
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Coach: Oliver Glasner
| Position | # | Player | Goals | Assists | Cards | Substitution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Dean Henderson | Yellow Card (90+1) | |||
| D | 26 | Chris Richards | ||||
| D | 5 | Maxence Lacroix | ||||
| D | 6 | Marc Guéhi | OFF: 61 min | |||
| M | 12 | Daniel Muñoz | 1 | |||
| M | 20 | Adam Wharton | OFF: 87 min | |||
| M | 18 | Daichi Kamada | ||||
| M | 3 | Tyrick Mitchell | ||||
| F | 7 | Ismaïla Sarr | ||||
| F | 10 | Eberechi Eze | 1 | |||
| F | 14 | Jean-Philippe Mateta | OFF: 78 min |
Substitutes:
- 30 - Matt Turner
- 25 - Ben Chilwell
- 17 - Nathaniel Clyne
- 2 - Joel Ward
- 8 - Jefferson Lerma (ON: 61 min)
- 19 - Will Hughes (ON: 87 min)
- 55 - Justin Devenny
- 21 - Romain Esse
- 9 - Edward Nketiah (ON: 78 min)
Manchester City
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Coach: Pep Guardiola
| Position | # | Player | Goals | Assists | Cards | Substitution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 18 | Stefan Ortega | ||||
| D | 25 | Manuel Akanji | ||||
| D | 3 | Rúben Dias | Yellow Card (82) | |||
| D | 24 | Joško Gvardiol | ||||
| D | 75 | Nico O'Reilly | Yellow Card (66) | |||
| M | 17 | Kevin De Bruyne | Yellow Card (85) | |||
| M | 20 | Bernardo Silva | Yellow Card (75) | OFF: 88 min | ||
| M | 26 | Savinho | OFF: 76 min | |||
| M | 7 | Omar Marmoush | OFF: 76 min | |||
| M | 11 | Jérémy Doku | ||||
| F | 9 | Erling Haaland |
Substitutes:
- 31 - Ederson
- 22 - Vitor Reis
- 45 - Abdukodir Khusanov
- 47 - Phil Foden (ON: 76 min)
- 27 - Matheus Nunes
- 10 - Jack Grealish (ON: 76 min)
- 14 - Nico González
- 19 - İlkay Gündoğan (ON: 88 min)
- 30 - Claudio Echeverri (ON: 76 min)
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Crystal Palace | Manchester City |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on Goal | 2 | 6 |
| Shots off Goal | 1 | 6 |
| Total Shots | 7 | 21 |
| Blocked Shots | 4 | 9 |
| Fouls | 7 | 7 |
| Corner Kicks | 1 | 7 |
| Offsides | 6 | 1 |
| Ball Possession | 22% | 78% |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 5 |
| Red Cards | None | None |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 6 | 1 |
| Total Passes | 187 | 655 |
| Passes Accurate | 125 | 597 |
| Pass Accuracy % | 67% | 91% |
Key Players
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
Eberechi Eze was the hero of the match, scoring the decisive goal in the 16th minute. His right-footed shot found the bottom-left corner, giving Crystal Palace the lead. According to Reddit, Eze's performance was pivotal in securing the win.
Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
Dean Henderson's outstanding goalkeeping was crucial in keeping Manchester City's attack at bay. He saved a penalty from Omar Marmoush and made several other key saves throughout the match. Henderson received a yellow card in the 90+1 minute for time-wasting, highlighting his commitment to preserving the lead.
Reactions and Analysis
The victory was celebrated across social media, with fans and analysts praising Crystal Palace's performance. On Reddit's r/TedLasso, users noted the parallel between the team's underdog status and the fictional AFC Richmond, which is loosely based on Crystal Palace. According to Al Jazeera, the win was a major upset, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the FA Cup.
According to ABC News, Crystal Palace's victory seals them a spot in the UEFA Europa League next season, marking their first top-flight trophy in history. Sports Prognosticator provided a detailed preview, noting that despite Crystal Palace’s strong form, Manchester City's experience was expected to give them an edge, highlighting the unexpected nature of the result.
Match Highlights and Extended Coverage
For those looking to relive the match, extended highlights and full match replays are available. Footballhighlights on Reddit provides links to extended highlights in 1080p, as well as pre-match, first-half, second-half, and post-match coverage.
The Road to Wembley
The Road to Wembley documentary, available on Reddit, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Crystal Palace and Manchester City's journey to the final, providing insights into their strategies and preparations.
Conclusion
Crystal Palace's FA Cup victory over Manchester City is a testament to their resilience and determination. Eberechi Eze's goal and Dean Henderson's heroics will be remembered by fans for years to come. This win not only secures their first major trophy but also a place in the UEFA Europa League, setting the stage for an exciting future.
This unexpected triumph has sparked joy and celebration among Crystal Palace supporters and serves as a reminder of the magic and unpredictability of football.