Manchester City’s 2024–25 campaign ended in heartbreak as they were stunned 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute strike secured a historic victory for Palace, who lifted the FA Cup for the first time in their history. It also confirmed a trophyless season for Pep Guardiola’s side—a rare and disappointing outcome for the Premier League giants.
City dominated possession and created several chances but were repeatedly denied by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who was at the heart of a resilient defensive display. The result marks one of the biggest FA Cup final upsets in recent memory.
Early Blow from Eze and Controversial Henderson Moment
Crystal Palace took the lead early on when Daniel Muñoz whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, which Eberechi Eze swept past Ederson with precision and composure. The Etihad side was left shell-shocked.
Shortly after, controversy erupted when Dean Henderson appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area. However, VAR did not intervene, and the goalkeeper escaped with just a warning—much to the fury of Guardiola and his players.
The defining moment of the first half came in the 36th minute when Tyrick Mitchell fouled Bernardo Silva in the box. But Omar Marmoush, who stepped up for the penalty, saw his effort brilliantly saved by Henderson, keeping Palace in front going into half-time.
City’s Key Players Fail to Deliver at Wembley
Despite their attacking depth, Manchester City lacked sharpness in the final third. Erling Haaland was again ineffective in a major final, registering just one shot on target and losing all his ground duels. The Norwegian’s decision to pass on penalty duties to Marmoush raised eyebrows—especially as it backfired spectacularly.
Marmoush himself struggled to influence the game beyond the missed spot-kick. The forward won just 22% of his duels and lost possession seven times. He was eventually replaced by teenager Claudio Echeverri, who also failed to make a meaningful impact.
Defensively, City were far from solid. Manuel Akanji was beaten in the build-up to Eze’s goal and had a shaky performance overall, failing to record a single clearance or interception and miscommunicating with Ruben Dias on multiple occasions.
End of an Era for Guardiola’s Current Generation?
The loss marks the end of a bitterly disappointing season for Manchester City. Knocked out early in the UEFA Champions League and second-best in the Premier League title race, the FA Cup final was Guardiola’s last chance at silverware this season.
With Kevin De Bruyne set to leave in the summer and questions looming over the futures of several players, a significant rebuild appears inevitable. Pep Guardiola now faces the challenge of rejuvenating an ageing and underperforming squad.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, celebrated an unforgettable moment in their history. Their FA Cup triumph will go down as one of English football’s great underdog stories—proof that grit, belief, and tactical discipline can conquer even the giants.
Conclusion: Trophyless City Face Crucial Summer Ahead
Manchester City’s failure to win the FA Cup confirmed a rare trophyless campaign and raised serious questions about the squad’s direction. Crystal Palace’s dream final was built on smart tactics, heroics from Dean Henderson, and a magical moment from Eberechi Eze.
For Guardiola and Manchester City, the focus now shifts to the summer transfer window, where significant changes will be needed to reclaim dominance in both domestic and European competitions.
