LONDON — In one of the most stunning upsets in recent English football history, Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the 2025 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, capturing the club’s first major trophy and ending City’s domestic dominance.
Local hero Eberechi Eze delivered the decisive moment, volleying in the game’s only goal in the 16th minute to ignite raucous celebrations from Palace supporters and send South London into jubilation. The victory marked a crowning achievement for manager Oliver Glasner, who became the first Austrian coach to win the FA Cup.
While City dominated possession and peppered the Palace goal throughout the match, they were repeatedly thwarted by a spectacular display from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who produced multiple saves — including a critical penalty stop — to preserve the historic win.
After weathering relentless early pressure from Pep Guardiola’s attacking lineup, Palace stunned the reigning Premier League giants with a brilliantly executed counterattack. Jean-Philippe Mateta sliced through the midfield and played in Daniel Muñoz, who delivered a low cross that Eze met with a first-time volley past City keeper Stefan Ortega.
The goal came completely against the run of play, but from that moment on, Palace absorbed wave after wave of City attacks. Henderson denied Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, and Jeremy Doku, while also diving low to his right to save a penalty taken by Omar Marmoush, who surprisingly stepped up instead of Haaland after Tyrick Mitchell brought down Bernardo Silva.
City had their moments. Kevin De Bruyne, playing in what is expected to be his final Wembley appearance in a Manchester City shirt, orchestrated early attacks and delivered precise service. However, Henderson’s heroics, combined with a resolute Palace defense, kept the seven-time FA Cup champions at bay.
Palace entered the final having lost in their two previous FA Cup appearances in 1990 and 2016. This time, they were not to be denied. Glasner, who took charge just 15 months ago, has now delivered the club’s first-ever major title in front of an ecstatic sea of fans dressed in purple and blue.
Even as VAR disallowed a second-half goal from Muñoz and 10 minutes of stoppage time had Palace fans holding their breath, the final whistle brought an eruption of emotion. “Glad All Over,” the club’s beloved anthem, echoed through Wembley as players collapsed to the turf in disbelief and delight.
For City, the defeat capped a frustrating campaign that will see them go without a domestic trophy for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Their back-to-back FA Cup final losses underscore a decline in form for a squad that once seemed untouchable.
Despite the loss, Guardiola’s side showed flashes of their old dominance, but their wastefulness in front of goal — and Henderson’s masterclass — proved costly on the biggest stage.
Crystal Palace, long considered underdogs in England’s elite football landscape, are now FA Cup champions. And for Eberechi Eze and his teammates, Saturday’s triumph at Wembley is a moment that will live forever in club lore.
