Nigeria’s Eberechi Eze helped Crystal Palace etched their name into footballing history after scoring the only goal against Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup Final to secure the club’s first-ever major trophy in their 119-year existence.
Eze’s clinical strike in the 16th minute proved decisive, as the south London club held firm amid relentless pressure to seal a famous win under the arch at Wembley.
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Under the guidance of head coach Oliver Glasner, the Eagles delivered a resolute and fearless display, defying the odds against a heavily favoured City side.
Despite being significantly outmatched statistically — generating just 0.74 expected goals (xG) compared to City’s 2.30 — Palace’s tactical discipline and sheer determination made the difference. City threw everything at them, but could not find a way through a wall of maroon shirts.
There was nearly more glory for the Eagles when Daniel Muñoz found the net after a deflection off City’s Ismaël Sarr.
The goal was ruled out following a VAR review which confirmed that Sarr was marginally offside during the build-up.Eze, Daichi Kamada, and Muñoz all had further opportunities to double the lead, while at the opposite end, Pep Guardiola’s men laid siege to the Palace goal.
Efforts from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland, and Claudio Echeverri failed to beat Palace’s resolute backline and goalkeeper.
Manchester City, beaten finalists for the second year running, will rue their missed chances, but the day belonged entirely to Crystal Palace.
A club long overshadowed by the Premier League’s giants, they finally had their moment of glory – lifting the FA Cup to the unbridled joy of thousands of travelling supporters and a jubilant south London.
For Palace, this is more than a cup win – it’s a defining moment in their history.
A new chapter begins, and the celebrations are sure to echo through the summer and beyond.
