KEIR RADNEDGE at WEMBLEY —- This was the undeniable day of the underdog at the 2025 FA Cup Final as Crystal Palace defied mighty Manchester City with a 1-0 win which stretched their fans nerves right through 90 minutes plus 10 of stoppage time.

City manager Pep Guardiola had now seen his team draw a blank for the first time since his initial English season in 2015-16. The impressive reign of Oliver Glasner saw the Palace boss become not only the first Austrian to manage in the final but the first to win it. His Eagles flew high at Wembley after an intensive display of energetic, disciplined defending plus an early breakaway goal from Eberechi Eze.

The most Palace had achieved previously since their foundation in 1905 was losing two finals, to Manchester United. Now the appearance of different Manchester opposition saw it become third time lucky. City dominated possession yet created only a handful of clear openings for all their attacking talent.

The south London club could not have enjoyed a better start. Tigerish tackling and eager covering kept out an incessant rain of City attacks and provided a counter-attacking springboard to take a 15th-minute lead.

Jean-Philippe Mateta laid a clearance wide to Daniel Munoz who sprinted wide down the right before crossing for Eberechi Eze to nip in ahead of Manuel Akanji and score.

City piled forward again and Palace keeper Dean Henderson luckily escaped a red card thanks to VAR ruling that his punch clear from a falling Haaland did not deny a goal-scoring opportunity because the Norwegian had been moving away from goal.

Penalty save

Henderson celebrated his escape by saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush – with the same right fist – after Tyrick Mitchell certainly did foul Haaland. Yet the City centre-forward, who had missed three penalties this season, had initially picked up the ball before handing it to the Egyptian mid-season signing. This was Henderson’s 10th penalty save of his senior career from 26 kicks.

City did fashion a further clear chance shortly before halftime but Kevin de Bruyne lifted his shot high over the bar and Jeremy Doku managed a repeat early in the second half. Bernardo Silva was then foiled by a brilliant block from Daichi Kamada before match history almost repeated itself with a second Palace goal.

This time, however, an offside decision against Ismaila Sarr ended Munoz’s premature celebration.

Substitutions

Palace were forced into the first change after captain Marc Guehi was felled by a shot before City, with time running out, brought on Phil Foden and – surprisingly – Claudio Echeverri for his first appearance since arriving from River Plate.

Echeverri could have become an instant hero but, with only Henderson to beat, shot at the goalkeeper and Palace scrambled the ball clear.

The various stoppages handed City 10 minutes of stoppage time in which to rescue the game. In vain. De Bruyne drove wide of Henderson’s left-hand post, Echeverri had another shot blocked and was foiled yet again by man-of-the-match Henderson. In the last minute Doku shot wide and, as Henderson’s goal kick hung in the air, referee Stuart Attwell blew his final whistle.

City do have one last trophy chance . . . in the FIFA Club World Cup, however inspired they may or may not feel about giving up a chunk of their summer holidays for the trip.

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