CRYSTAL Palace won the first major trophy in the club’s history with victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Eberechi Eze was Palace’s hero when he crowned a superb counter-attack by sweeping home Daniel Munoz’s cross after 16 minutes.
It’s the first trophy thr club has won in its 164-year history.
City, meanwhile, endured a day of total frustration as they failed to win a trophy in a season for the first time since manager Pep Guardiola’s first campaign in charge in 2016-17.
They were furious when Palace keeper Dean Henderson was not shown a red card when he handled outside his area under pressure from Erling Haaland in the first half, the video assistant referee (VAR) adjudging that City’s striker was moving away from goal and therefore not denied a clear opportunity.
Henderson then emerged as Palace’s hero when he saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty after 36 minutes following Tyrick Mitchell’s foul on Bernardo Silva, Haaland stepping aside from spot-kick duties after failing with three of his past seven attempts.
City dominated possession but Oliver Glasner’s side defended magnificently, with Henderson outstanding, saving from Haaland, Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku in the first half, then denying Claudio Echeverri after the break.
The final whistle sparked scenes of ecstasy among Palace fans as the long wait for success was over for the Eagles.
The greatest day in Palace’s history was richly deserved and reward for faith in the work of Glasner, who has masterminded their superb run to FA Cup glory.
Palace did not win their first Premier League game this season until 27 October, but faith in the Austrian never wavered and the payback is this big prize – as well as a place in the Europa League next season.
Eze and Henderson have been two standout heroes on the road to Wembley, and they inspired the Eagles once again as City were punished at one end and thwarted at the other.
Eze provided the moment of magic, as he did in the quarter-final win at Fulham and the semi-final win against Aston Villa at Wembley, pouncing ruthlessly on Munoz’s cross to leave Stefan Ortega helpless.
This is the second year in a row City have lost the FA Cup final, after losing to Manchester United last season.
Guardiola cut an irritated figure, appearing to exchange words with Henderson after the final whistle.
City must now refocus quickly for Tuesday’s Premier League game at home to Bournemouth, with work still to do to finish in the top five and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
For a club so used to success, finishing without a trophy is bad enough. Failure to reach Europe’s elite tournament would represent a catastrophe.