LONDON (AP) — Crystal Palace pulled off one of the biggest upsets in history to beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and lift the famous trophy for the first time.
Eberechi Eze’s strike secured Palace’s first major trophy and ensured the once dominant City for the first time in eight years.
“This is special,” Eze said. “Facing the team that’s been the best in the world for years, to show that type of spirit and energy …”
As cup final upsets go, this was up there with Wigan’s victory over City in 2013 and Wimbledon’s iconic win against Liverpool in 1988.
The outcome might have been different if Omar Marmoush had converted a first-half penalty to level the score, but his effort was saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Palace players were handed their medals and the trophy by Prince William, sparking more delirious celebrations from their fans.
“We owed them a trophy and we got them one,” Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish said. “All the people that stick with you and believe, it is for them.
“It’s great for the Cup as well.”
The historic triumph came at the third time of asking for Palace, which lost its previous finals in 1990 and 2016, both to Manchester United.
Guardiola: ‘Nothing to regret’
City has suffered back-to-back defeats in the final, having also lost to United last year.
While the result will go down as an upset, in the context of City’s season, it was just a latest disappointment.
A troubled campaign has seen Pep Guardiola’s team tamely surrender the Premier League title after an unprecedented four successive triumphs and crash out of the Champions League in the playoffs.
City’s form has been so bad by its high standards that it is still in danger of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League with two games to go.
Its priority now is to secure a place in the Premier League top five that would gain entry to European club soccer’s top competition, while the next month offers a shot at some glory in the offseason.
“We did everything. Nothing to regret,” Guardiola said. “We are sad because we didn’t win, but we played much better — better than against United last season.”
Haaland doesn’t take penalty
Despite its troubles, City went into the sun-soaked final as the overwhelming favorite, as Guardiola looked to collect his 16th major trophy for the club.
But in front of more than 84,000 spectators, Palace went ahead in the 16th minute when Eze swept home Daniel Munoz’s cross from inside the box at the end of a swift break.
Marmoush’s moment came 20 minutes later when Tyrick Mitchell brought down Bernardo Silva and referee Stuart Atwell pointed to the spot.
Despite City’s top scorer Erling Haaland being on the field, Marmoush placed the ball and his shot low into the corner was pushed away by Henderson, unleashing almost as big a roar as Eze’s goal.
“I didn’t speak with them about the penalty,” Guardiola said. “They take a decision, penalties are like that. I like guys who take initiative. They decide.”
In the second half, Munoz had the Palace fans cheering again when squeezing the ball over the line, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
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The post Crystal Palace makes FA Cup history by stunning Man City 1-0 in the final appeared first on Associated Press.
