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Phil McNulty
Chief Football Writer at Wembley

Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup final in stunning fashion, as goals from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr secured a fully deserved victory over Aston Villa at Wembley.

Eze broke the deadlock after 31 minutes, unleashing a magnificent strike from the edge of the penalty area that flew past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Palace had chances to extend their lead before the break — Tyrick Mitchell miskicked in front of an open goal, and Jean-Philippe Mateta missed from the penalty spot, his effort glancing off the post.

Undeterred, the Eagles continued to press and were rewarded when Sarr powered forward and fired a low shot from 22 yards into the bottom corner, doubling the advantage just before the hour mark.

Between Palace’s two goals, goalkeeper Dean Henderson produced outstanding saves to deny John McGinn and Lucas Digne as Villa searched for a response.

Despite Villa's late pressure, Palace’s disciplined defence held firm, and Sarr sealed the win in stoppage time, sprinting clear to slot past Martinez.

This triumph sends manager Oliver Glasner and Palace into their third FA Cup final — their first since 2016 — as they continue their quest to lift the trophy for the first time. They will meet either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in the final.


"Palace Fully Deserve Wembley Glory"

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"Palace Triumph at Wembley in Style"

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Wembley

Eberechi Eze and Ismaïla Sarr stole the spotlight as Crystal Palace continued their pursuit of a historic first FA Cup triumph — but this was, above all, a complete team performance, from back to front.

It's a testament to manager Oliver Glasner's influence that Palace combine defensive resilience with attacking flair, allowing for the brilliant, game-changing moments that lit up their quarter-final win at Fulham and surfaced once more here.

England boss Thomas Tuchel is known to admire Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and while he may not yet pose a serious challenge to Jordan Pickford's long-held No.1 shirt, his commanding display under Wembley’s high-pressure glare suggested a player reaching full maturity.

At the back, captain Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix exuded calm and composure, ensuring Palace were rarely placed under sustained threat, while Adam Wharton brought balance and creativity to the midfield.

It is in attack, however, where Palace truly excite. Eze, dazzling and unpredictable, remains their X-factor — a player capable of turning a game in an instant. Villa felt the full force of it.

After Eze opened the scoring, Palace showed real resilience to shake off the setback of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s missed penalty. They powered on, ultimately sealing a comfortable win with two contrasting goals from Sarr: first, a stunning long-range strike; then, a brilliant solo effort showcasing his pace, skill, and composure.

Palace fans celebrated in full voice — and with good reason. On this form, they will pose a real threat to either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in the final back here on May 17.


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Villa Fall Short on Wembley Stage

Aston Villa were left with no excuses as another golden opportunity slipped through their fingers. The disappointment will feel all too familiar, echoing their recent Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

While their European defeat could be seen as a brave, hard-fought loss, there was little consolation at Wembley, where Villa were ruthlessly exposed by Crystal Palace’s clinical attack.

Manager Unai Emery and his players may reflect on a key passage just after half-time, when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson first denied John McGinn and then pulled off a vital save to turn Lucas Digne’s low shot around the post — a moment that could have changed the game.

Ollie Watkins, who was left frustrated after being benched in the PSG second leg, earned a starting spot here with Marcus Rashford sidelined. Yet the England forward found no joy against a well-organized Palace defence.

By the final stages, Villa had run out of both ideas and energy. Ismaïla Sarr's late goal to make it 3-0 only compounded their misery.

Despite still being firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place, sitting seventh in the Premier League, Villa are enduring a painful run. After conceding a last-minute winner against Manchester City in midweek, this heavy defeat on a major stage will be another bitter pill to swallow.



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