With a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City for the first time, adding to Pep Guardiola’s troubled side’s misery.
Before Eze’s late penalty saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the first half of a dramatic final at Wembley, City was rocked by Eze’s early strike.
Eze’s skillful saves marked the start of his remarkable rise as a youngster, despite being rejected by Arsenal, Fulham, and Millwall, with Henderson becoming Palace’s hero with a string of outstanding saves.
Henderson should have been given a penalty after a first-half handball outside of his penalty area, according to City.
However, Henderson capitalized on that contentious incident to ensure Palace won their first significant trophy in their 120-year history and a spot in the Europa League for the following year.
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In their previous FA Cup final appearances in 1990 and 2016, Manchester United had already defeated Palace, but that victory was undeserved as City again fell behind in a mediocre season that will mark their first without significant silverware since 2016-17.
City have endured a turbulent campaign that is among Guardiola’s worst managerial career, having won the Premier League four times in a row.
City play Bournemouth on Tuesday and travel to Fulham on May 25 as they try to salvage their miserable year by at least qualifying for the Champions League. City is currently sixth in the Premier League.
As they struggled to maintain their lead over Liverpool in the title race and were eliminated from the Champions League, Guardiola had questioned their appetite for food.
Although Palace may not have had a desire, Guardiola’s defeat in their second FA Cup final defeat was a worrying sign for the club as he was beaten by Eagles manager Oliver Glasner.
Guardiola’s selection for a final came unexpected, not the first time, when he chose an ultra-attacking line-up without a holding midfielder.
Guardiola’s gamble has a negative impact.
However, Guardiola’s practice of changing his finals strategies has historically had negative effects.
Guardiola stated he was putting his faith in “talent,” but Glasner saw an opening in the City lineup, saying: “When you have so many attacking players it could give you an opportunity in transitions.”
When Erling Haaland stretched to meet Kevin De Bruyne’s cross with a volley that forced Henderson to make a scrambled save, it almost seemed like City was off to the right start.
Henderson was able to deflect Josko Gvardiol’s towering header from Savinho’s corner cunningly.
City was pounced by Glasner’s deft choice to set up Palace deep within their own half.
In the 16th minute, Glasner’s men broke brilliantly from their penalty area, giving Palace the decisive blow from their first attack.
Daniel Munoz surged down the right flank before heading in the opposite direction, where Jean-Philippe Mateta guided a superb volley past Stefan Ortega from 12 yards, after receiving Chris Richards’ long pass.
When Henderson escaped a red card after the ‘keeper rushed out to challenge Haaland, the city were furious when VAR examined his handball, which appeared to have taken place outside the area.
It was “not an obvious goal-scoring opportunity,” according to VAR, but Henderson’s 35th minute save saved Palace.
Bernardo Silva ran away from the goal as Tyrick Mitchell fumbled a needless foul on the City midfielder.
When Henderson plunged to his right to prevent the Egyptians’ strike, Marmoush took the spot-kick in a disastrous move, preventing Haaland from taking the spot-kick.
A Jeremy Doku strike that appeared to be headed for the top corner was defended by Henderson, who was in excellent form, and denied City once more.
Henderson made two more admirable saves from Claudio Echeverri to cap a frustrating afternoon for Guardiola, who Palace were indebted to for enduring.
Source: Channels TV
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