Eberechi Eze fired Crystal Palace to their first ever trophy with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Crystal Palace ended their long wait for silverware and have qualified for the Europa League.
Eze struck in the 16th minute before goalkeeper Dean Henderson escaped a red card for handball and then saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty in an action-packed first half at Wembley.
While Eze’s clinical finish was the culmination of his remarkable rise from rejection by Arsenal, Fulham, and Millwall as a youngster, it was Henderson who emerged as Palace’s hero with a series of superb saves.
City will protest that Henderson should have been sent off for a first-half handball outside his penalty area.
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But Henderson made the most of that controversial moment to ensure Palace clinched the first major trophy in their 120-year history and a place in next season’s Europa League.
Beaten by Manchester United in their previous FA Cup final appearances in 1990 and 2016, Palace’s shock win was no more than they deserved as City once again imploded in a dismal season that will be their first without major silverware since 2016-17.
After winning the Premier League in the previous four seasons, City have endured a turbulent campaign that ranks among the worst in Pep Guardiola’s storied managerial career.
Currently sixth in the Premier League, City host Bournemouth on Tuesday and travel to Fulham on May 25 as they try to salvage their wretched year by at least qualifying for the Champions League.
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