Crystal Palace win historic first Emirates FA Cup
Baku, May 19, AZERTAC
Oliver Glasner hailed Crystal Palace's "special" first ever major trophy as Eberechi Eze fired them to a dramatic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, according to Sky Sports.
Palace ended their long wait for silverware and qualified for the Europa League when 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.
The VAR, Jarred Gillett, deemed Henderson had not denied a clear goalscoring opportunity when he palmed the ball away from Erling Haaland after referee Stuart Attwell had allowed play to continue.
Man City couldn't find a way past Henderson and his resilient defence despite naming an attacking line-up with no holding midfielder, with this the first season in eight years that Pep Guardiola has failed to win a major trophy at the club.
Palace were denied a second in the 58th minute for offside after Daniel Munoz had squeezed the ball home from a tight angle before Henderson denied teenager Claudio Echeverri twice late on to make history.
City had piled the pressure on straight away with Henderson making saves from Haaland and Josko Gvardiol, but Palace scored with their first attack. Munoz ran down the right and crossed low into the middle, where Eze arrived to sweep the ball in.
Henderson was lucky to be on the pitch to save Marmoush's penalty, the striker having been handed the ball by Haaland after Tyrick Mitchell had conceded the spot kick by sliding in on Bernardo Silva, who went over despite there being minimal contact.
City hadn't done a lot wrong in the first half which was compounded when Henderson denied Jeremy Doku before Kevin De Bruyne, on his final Wembley appearance for the club, lashed the rebound over.
Palace defended superbly throughout and had to rely on Henderson's saves. They thought Munoz had doubled their lead but his initial shot hit team-mate Ismaila Sarr before he turned in at the second attempt.
Echeverri was thrown on for his City debut in the final 15 minutes and was twice denied by Henderson when well-positioned in the box.
There were 10 minutes of added time and still City couldn't find a way past Henderson, who Guardiola confronted at full-time.
Crystal Palace have secured a place in the Europa League as winners of the FA Cup.
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