Crystal Palace Stun Manchester City to Win First Major Trophy in 120 Years

May 17, 2025 | Wembley Stadium, London

In a stunning upset that will be etched into the annals of English football, Crystal Palace claimed their first major trophy in 120 years, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening. The victory, confirmed by renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, marked a monumental breakthrough for the South London club, ending a trophy drought that had persisted since their founding as a professional outfit in 1905.

A Moment of Magic from Eberechi Eze

The defining moment of the match came in the 18th minute when Eberechi Eze, the talismanic England forward, struck a brilliant goal to put Palace ahead. As shown in the match graphic shared by Romano, Eze’s strike was the only goal of the game, a curling effort from the edge of the box that left Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson grasping at thin air. The 26-year-old, who had already been pivotal in Palace’s 3-0 semi-final win over Aston Villa last month, proved once again why he is considered one of the Premier League’s brightest stars.

goal was a culmination of Palace’s disciplined and dynamic approach under manager Oliver Glasner. The Austrian, who took over at Selhurst Park in February 2024, has transformed the Eagles into a side brimming with belief and tactical nous. Speaking after the semi-final victory, Eze had expressed confidence that Palace could “go all the way” and win their first major trophy, a sentiment that proved prophetic on this historic evening (The Guardian, April 26, 2025).

#### Glasner’s Tactical Masterclass

Glasner’s influence on Crystal Palace has been nothing short of revolutionary. As detailed in a 2024 analysis by Extra Time Talk, Glasner brought a “free-flowing, direct, and vertical attacking approach” to the club, a stark contrast to the more conservative style under his predecessor, Roy Hodgson. His tactics were on full display against Manchester City, a team that had previously dismantled Palace 5-2 in a league match last month.

Following that defeat, Glasner issued a bold warning to City manager Pep Guardiola: “I told Pep after the game that he can’t play this system (again), because we will beat it,” he said, as reported by The Athletic (May 12, 2025). True to his word, Glasner’s Palace side executed a near-perfect game plan in the final. Utilizing a back five to match City’s width and a compact midfield led by Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada, Palace stifled City’s usual fluidity while capitalizing on counter-attacking opportunities. The front