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Crystal Palace win FA Cup - but VAR controversy has stolen limelight
Eberechi Eze's first-half strike and a man-of-the-match display by Dean Henderson ensured Oliver Glasner's side took the trophy back to Selhurst Park
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Crystal Palace clinched the first trophy in their 164-year history as the FA Cup once again proved it doesn't care for reputations. A first-half goal from Eberechi Eze and a standout performance by goalkeeper Dean Henderson ensured Oliver Glasner's team brought the trophy back to Selhurst Park, leaving Pep Guardiola without silverware for the first time since 2017.
Manchester City will argue that Henderson - formerly of Old Trafford - shouldn't have been on the pitch to make a series of stunning saves, including an incredible stop to deny Omar Marmoush's penalty. And they would be correct.
Henderson should have been sent off for clearly handling outside his penalty area in the 21st minute to stop Erling Haaland from having a clear shot at goal. VAR official Jarred Gillett decided that Haaland was moving away from the goal and wouldn't have scored.
Mr Gillett clearly doesn't understand the game of football. Haaland might not have gone on to score - but you would do well to find a bookie willing to hand out odds.
Guardiola confronted the jubilant Henderson on the pitch at the end. Thankfully, the City manager eventually realised that the fault lay elsewhere and extended a congratulatory handshake, reports the Mirror.
It took Gillett a considerable amount of time to confirm referee Stuart Attwell's decision that Bernardo Silva had been fouled by Tyrick Mitchell in the 36th minute as he sprinted into the Palace penalty area. Attwell himself had paused before awarding the penalty.
Erling Haaland, who has missed three out of seven penalties this season, passed the ball to Marmoush after giving it a kiss. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the kiss of death.
Marmoush struck his shot with force, but the Palace goalkeeper dived to his right to make an exceptional save. Palace struggled to get out of their own half in the early stages.
Henderson made saves from both Haaland and Josko Gvardiol.
However, the Londoners' first attack in the 16th minute sent the Holmesdale fans in Wembley's West Stand into raptures. Chris Richards' long pass found Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose pass set Daniel Munoz free down the right to deliver a low cross that was stylishly volleyed home by Eze.
Mateta could have doubled Palace's lead but his shot at Stefan Ortega from another Munoz cross was weak. At this point, Palace had only managed 17 percent possession.
City, with Kevin De Bruyne making his last Wembley appearance in a Sky Blue shirt, squandered a great opportunity after Henderson made another superb save to deny Jeremy Doku. But Henderson wasn't the only hero for Palace.
Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada were solid in midfield, while Munoz dazzled on the right wing - he thought he had doubled Palace's lead early in the second half, but a VAR review revealed that Ismaila Saar was offside.
Captain Marc Guehi eventually hobbled off after a valiant performance alongside Maxence Lacroix and Richards. Guardiola finally brought on Phil Foden and gave teenage Argentine Claudio Echeverri his debut.
Both Echeverri and Nico O'Reilly succumbed to nerves as City mounted an onslaught in the final stages, with numerous opportunities either saved by Henderson or wasted.
Eagles chairman Steve Parish and 35,000 supporters endured a nerve-wracking 10 minutes of injury time before they could finally celebrate their victory.
Palace had been in this position twice before, losing both times to Manchester United. Steve Coppell, who managed Wright, Bright and Co in 1990, was snapping selfies amidst the jubilant celebrations.
Next season will see the Eagles making their maiden voyage into European football, and their first order of business must be to ensure Glasner remains with them. Meanwhile, Guardiola has the task of rallying his team for Tuesday night's crucial match against Bournemouth, lest the Blues find themselves joining Palace in the Europa League.
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