On an unforgettable day for Crystal Palace fans, the London club made history by claiming their first trophy in 164 years of existence. Coached by Oliver Glasner, they defeated the mighty Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final, held at a packed Wembley Stadium with over 84,000 spectators.

The only goal of the match came early, in the 16th minute. A deadly counterattack started by Jean-Philippe Mateta, who passed to Colombian Daniel Muñoz on the wing, ended with a precise cross into the heart of the box. There, Eberechi Eze calmly finished to ignite the roar of the 'Eagles' supporters in the stands.

From then on, Crystal Palace showed more hunger, intensity, and determination than their rivals. The team withstood City’s attacks thanks to a monumental performance by Dean Henderson, who not only saved several clear chances but also stopped a penalty taken by Omar Marmoush, despite the presence of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland on the pitch.

The English goalkeeper, formerly of Manchester United, once again demonstrated his penalty-saving prowess, reaching an impressive milestone: he has saved 9 of the 22 penalties he has faced in his career, boasting over 40% effectiveness. He also made a great save against Jeremy Doku and won a one-on-one duel with the young debutant Claudio Echeverri.

Although the VAR disallowed Muñoz’s 2-0 goal for offside, Glasner’s side held firm against City’s late attempts and closed out the match with the solidity that allowed them to lift the long-awaited trophy. This victory is a redemption for the club, which lost finals in 1990 and 2016, and now rewards the work of their Austrian coach, who took over in February 2024.

On the other side, the outcome is bitter for Pep Guardiola and his team. For the first time since 2017, Manchester City ends a season without any titles. Having been knocked out early from the Premier League, Champions League, and League Cup, their only consolation is securing a top-five finish to stay in European competitions next season.

The match leaves a mark: while Crystal Palace celebrates an unprecedented achievement, City will have to reflect on a campaign marked by a lack of decisiveness in key moments.