Crystal Palace 1, Manchester City 0 (FA Cup Final) Player Ratings
Eberechi Eze scored the only goal as Crystal Palace beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup and lift their first ever silverware.
It meant a trophy less season for City boss Pep Guardiola for the first time since his first season in charge of the club nine years ago as Oliver Glasner’s men got the goal they needed and defended well against a City side who looked short of ideas.
City were on top in the first 15 minutes with several chances to score but Palace withstood the pressure and caught the Blues on the break with Jean-Philippe Mateta holding up the ball before releasing Daniel Munoz on the right whose cross was finished off by Eberechi Eze from 12 yards out
Dean Henderson put himself on the spot ten minutes later when he appeared to swipe the ball away from Erling Haaland while right on the edge of the box but a VAR check for denial of a goalscoring opportunity saw no action recommended.
Henderson was in the spotlight minutes later after Bernardo Silva was brought down by Tyrick Mitchell and Stuart Attwell awarded the penalty.
Omar Marmoush stepped up but the England keeper parried it away and jumped on Erling Haaland’s follow-up with Pep Guardiola an impassive watcher from the sidelines.
There was relief for City after VAR ruled that Daniel Munoz’ goal for Palace was offside after the ball had rebounded off Ismaila Sarr after City didn’t properly clear it.
And although City had plenty of chances to take the game to extra time – including a great chance for debutant Claudio Echeverri who shot straight at Henderson late in the game.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Crystal Palace 1, Manchester City 0 (FA Cup Final)
Stefan Ortega: 6. Did not cover himself in glory, saved from a second goal concession by offside.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Started at right back. Header on the roof of the net during City dominance. Bailed out by Ruben Dias in the second half.
Ruben Dias: 6. Caught out by Eberechi Eze’s goal. Outmuscled by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Josko Gvardiol: 6. Had a header saved by Dean Henderson from Savinho’s corner as he looked to progress the ball. Sloppy in the second half though.
Nico O’Reilly: 6. Pushed higher into wide left role to trial a partnership with Jeremy Doku but Palace capitalised on the space left behind to open the scoring. Daniel Munoz gave the inexperienced player a tough examination.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Nominally the sitting midfielder but got in on the act of sending balls in to the box. Got even further forward in the second half.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6. Found his range early on with balls into the box, laying the ball into Erling Haaland for a volley that was saved by Dean Henderson. Mishit an glorious chance at the end of the first half but faded in the second half – only a sumptuous through ball for Claudio Etcheverri to show.
Omar Marmoush: 6. Lively start close to Erling Haaland. Got the ball off Haaland to take a penalty but it was saved by Dean Henderson who guessed right in a crucial turning point for the game
Savinho: 6. Good balls into the box from set pieces on the right, gave Tyrick Mitchell plenty to think about but faded later in the game.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Dangerous on the ball in the first half. Double teamed when he got on the ball later. Shot was saved towards the end of the first half as he improved and also had shots saved and over the bar in the second half.
Erling Haaland: 6. Still looked out of sorts and hasn’t scored in a major final for City. Volley on the stretch saved by Dean Henderson. Follow-up saved by Henderson.
Claudio Echeverri (on for Savinho, 76): No time to mark
Phil Foden (on for Omar Marmoush, 76): No time to mark
Ilkay Gundogan (on for Bernardo Silva, 88): No time to mark.
TEAM NEWS – Crystal Palace 1, Manchester City 0 (FA Cup Final)
Mateo Kovacic (who was ill), James McAtee, and Rico Lewis omitted from the match day squad. Vitor Reis, Abdudokir Khusanov, and Claudio Echeverri added.
Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Omar Marmouch start in the same side for the first time. Inclusion of Jeremy Doku and Savinho make it a very attacking City side.
For Crystal Palace, Adam Wharton was passed fit to play against City after being an injury doubt while Daichi Kamada came into the side – replacing Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes from their game against Tottenham.
GOAL – Crystal Palace 1, Manchester City 0 (FA Cup Final)
Man City 0, Crystal Palace 1: 16. Daniel Munoz was able to get a cross in from the right after Jean-Philippe Mateta released him on the right flank. The cross was finished by Eberechi Eze from 12 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Crystal Palace 1, Manchester City 0 (FA Cup Final)
Man City: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Silva (Gundogan 88), De Bruyne (C), Marmoush (Foden 76), Savinho (Echeverri 76), Doku, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ederson, Grealish, Nico, Reis, Nunes, Khusanov
Bookings: O’Reilly 66 (foul on Daniel Munoz); Silva 75 (foul on Jean-Philippe Mateta); De Bruyne 85 (foul); Echeverri 90+4 (foul on Eberechi Eze)
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi (C) (Lerma 61), Munoz, Wharton (Hughes 87), Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta (Nketiah 78)
Crystal Palace Subs not used: Turner, Ward, Clyne, Esse, Chilwell, Devenny
Bookings: Henderson 90+2 (time wasting)
Goal: Eze 16
Attendance: 84,163
Referee: Stuart Attwell