Crystal Palace vs Man City – FA Cup final LIVE RESULT: Eagles end 120-YEAR WAIT for major trophy after superb Eze goal
CRYSTAL PALACE have ended a 120-YEAR wait for a major trophy with an incredible FA Cup win over Man City!
Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of the game as The Eagles rear guard firm against waves and waves of Man City pressure.
Pep Guardiola's side had 79 per cent possession ans 23 shots but couldn't break the deadlock.
Their best chance came via Omar Marmoush but the £60million forward saw his penalty SAVED by Dean Henderson in dramatic scenes.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Follow ALL the action from the FA Cup final with our live blog below...
Eze does it
Eberechi Eze's name will forever be etched into Palace folklore.
The 24-year-old smashed in the winner to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
An emotional Eze said after the game: "No words, man. No words. I don’t know what to say. I can only thank God.
"This is special. This is what dreams are made of, for me and this club.
"Who thought we could do it? We’ve made history today.
"Tactics were good but I feel like our spirit and energy got us through."
Credit: Getty Full report from Wembley
Drink it in, Palace fans.
The Eagles have landed - and won their first major trophy in 119 years.
SunSport's Dave Kidd was at Wembley to witness history...
Glasner - 'I'm so proud'
Oliver Glasner looked as stunned as anyone to have an FA Cup winners medal around his neck.
The Palace boss said: "I can’t really believe it. If you play this game 10 times, we win it once and that happened today.
"We scored the first time we were in their half and then we defended with every single phase of the body and a great goalkeeper, a great mentality and togetherness.
"I’m really proud of the team and the staff – congratulations, all the credit goes to them."
Credit: Getty
Pep speaks
Pep Guardiola has failed to lead Manchester City to silverware this season.
And he was left to rue his side's missed chances at the Home of Football.
Guardiola said: "We played really good.
"We did everything and created chances but unfortunately we couldn’t score.
"They scored with their first transition. It’s about goals – they scored one, so congratulations to Crystal Palace."
Credit: Getty Palace's route to glory
Here's how Crystal Palace battled their way to the FA Cup - beating a team from every EFL division in the process.
- Stockport (H) 1-0
- Doncaster (A) 2-0
- Millwall (H) 3-1
- Fulham (A) 3-0
- Aston Villa (Wembley) 3-0
- Man City (Wembley) 1-0
Credit: Getty No wonder ball
Oasis star Noel Gallagher looked utterly dejected as he watched his beloved Manchester City lose to Crystal Palace at Wembley.
The rocker, 57, was joined by his daughter Anais and her actor boyfriend Callum Howells to watch Palace pull off one of the biggest FA Cup final upsets in recent memory.
Emotional tribute
It was a day to remember for Dean Henderson, who put in a sparkling performance under the Wembley arch.
And he dedicated Palace making history to his dad Dougie, who passed away last year.
Match stats
Manchester City had all the possession at a red-hot Wembley.
But it was Crystal Palace who did what mattered - and put the ball in the net.
Hendo's admission
Dean Henderson was relieved it was Omar Marmoush stepping up to take today's penalty instead of Erling Haaland.
The Palace stopped claimed he "knew which way" the Egyptian would go for City's first-half spot-kick.
He told ITV: "Haaland might've stepped up, I didn't know which way he'd go.
"But Marmoush, I knew which way he was going. I knew I would save it."
Credit: Reuters
Eze does it
Eberechi Eze was Crystal Palace’s hero in the FA Cup final.
The Eagles forward smashed in the only goal of the game to give Palace their first ever major trophy.
Eze was formerly on the books at Arsenal, Reading, Fulham and Millwall – but was released by all four.
Here's the story of the England star's rise to become a modern-day Palace legend.
Guard up
Dean Henderson and Pep Guardiola exchanged tense words on the Wembley pitch after the final whistle.
The Palace keeper has revealed just what the Spaniard said - and it wasn't about his controversial handball in the first half...
Dan the man
What a performance from Daniel Munoz on the Palace right.
The flying full-back put in an inch-perfect cross to assist Eberechi Eze for the match winner.
And he had the ball in the net in the second half, only for a tight offside call to deny him.
The Palace star was named Player of the Match - and the stats show the Colombian made the most of limited time on the ball.
Roo roasted
Gary Lineker roasted Wayne Rooney over his managerial record - live on the BBC.
The Manchester United legend joined Lineker for the Beeb's coverage of the FA Cup final from Wembley.
But it was Lineker's brutal quip at half-time that had social media talking.
Palace's star men
All of the Crystal Palace players worked their socks off, but certain players deserve even more praise.
Dean Henderson has to be the Man of the Match, crucial save after crucial save, a penalty stop, and a clean sheet to go with it.
Daniel Munoz was everywhere on the pitch today, it felt like all of Palace's attacks went through him.
And of course, Eze has to get a mention for the winner, he calmly slotted the ball into the net after just 16 minutes - ultimately the biggest moment of the match.
Penalty controversy?
One of the big talking points going into half-time was Haaland giving Marmoush the penalty.
Wayne Rooney believes that the Norwegian was taken off penalty duties ahead of the FA Cup final.
This might be because the big man has missed three of his seven penalties this season.
Angry Pep
After the full-time celebrations Pep Guardiola seemed annoyed at the Palace keeper - but it's unclear why.
Before Henderson made that crucial penalty save against Marmoush, there was a controversial moment where the Palace shot stopper pushed the ball way outside of the box.
But VAR looked at the claim and decided it was not denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Brilliant Eagles
Crystal Palace fans will be celebrating all night after that performance.
It was clear what the plan was from minute one all the way through until the final whistle.
And it worked perfectly.
'The fans have been sensational'
Up in the commentary booth shearer was full of praise for the Palace supporters.
He said: "It's a great atmosphere and the fans to my right here were sensational.
"They deserve it, they were the better team, City didn't do enough in front of goal.
"They grew into the game and Palace worked ever so hard.
'They have been incredible'
Sean Dyche has given credit to the entire staff at Crystal Palace.
He stated: "You have to give credit to Steve Parish, he's stood by what he does.
"Mainly you have to give it to the players and the manager, they've been incredible."
'I'm emotional'
Palace hero Clinton Morrison reflects on this special moment for the London club.
He said: "It's a special time, Palace aren't a big club, but they're going to Europe.
"It might mean they keep hold of their two gems [Eze and Mateta]."
Palace lift the Fa Cup
It's Palace legend Joel Ward and captain Mark Guehi who lift the trophy.
A wonderful moment for the fullback who's leaving at the end of the season.
FA Cup Winners!
'Outstanding'
Wayne Rooney said on the broadcast that Palace deserved the win.
He said: "Palace were outstanding, they knew they'd have to come here and work hard.
"Sometimes things are meant to happen and meant to be.
"Dean Henderson made some crucial saves."
'I knew I'd save it'
Speaking to the pitch side reporter, Henderson was overwhelmed with happiness.
He reflects on his performance and that penalty save.
He said: "I knew which way he [Marmoush] was going, I knew I would save it.
"I lost my dad at the start of the season but he was with me today.
"I dedicate that win to him."
View from SunSport's Martin Blackburn at Wembley
A game very much in keeping with City’s season – and they will end the domestic campaign empty handed for the first time in eight years.
Guardiola’s men dominated the game, got caught out by their opponents first attack – and ended up losing.
They will point to the decision not to send off Dean Henderson as being crucial – and it is hard not to feel a degree of sympathy for them.
But nobody will begrudge Palace a first ever major trophy.