Crystal Palace win FA Cup for first time in their history as Eberechi Eze’s goal secures 1-0 victory over Manchester City

Crystal Palace have won the FA Cup for the first time in their history after a tight 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze wrote himself into club folklore by scoring the only goal of the final in the 16th minute.

A day of triumph for the Eagles and their manager Oliver Glasner will be of one contention for beaten City who saw Omar Marmoush have a penalty saved by Dean Henderson midway through the first half.

Henderson was very fortunate to be on the pitch in the first instance when he had earlier deliberately handled outside the penalty area but inexplicably the referee and VAR decided the ball was going away from goal – despite Erling Haaland being denied a goalscoring opportunity.

Eyebrows will be raised about the officiating in the first half as replays also showed that Tyrick Mitchell got a touch on the ball before fouling Bernardo Silva for City’s penalty.

Nonetheless, Palace will feel justice was served with that decision as Henderson correctly dived to his right to deny Marmoush. Again, questions will be asked as to why Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne didn’t take the spot-kick.

Palace thought they had doubled their lead in the second half when the impressive Daniel Munoz scored past Stefan Ortega. However, VAR was correct this time as replays showed his initial shot took a deflection off the offside Ismaila Sarr before he pounced on his own rebound.

Nico O’Reilly wasted a glorious chance to level for City as they pushed for an equaliser when he could not sort his feet out after being put through on goal by De Bruyne.

For City, it means it’s the first time since Pep Guardiola’s first season at the club that they will end the domestic season trophyless.

But for the Eagles they will soar high as they win their first major honour in their history and with that have Europa League football to look forward to next season.