Eze and Henderson heroics leave Eagles glad all over

Glory all over. After 119 years, and two previous final defeats, Crystal Palace's name is finally on the cup. A 1-0 win over Manchester City has given them the first major silverware in their history, leaving their ecstatic fans to lose themselves in the moment.

- MIGUEL DELANEY AT WEMBLEY STADIUM

Such scenes of euphoria and romance are what it’s supposed to be about. That angst the supporters felt in those final 10 minutes of stoppage time turned to joy like they’ve never known. And there was a fitting element of vintage FA Cup magic to this victory over Pep Guardiola’s side, which will, of course, go down as a great upset.

That name on the trophy didn’t just apply to the tangible act of inscribing “Crystal Palace” on that famous silverware. Very early on in the game, it just felt like it was going to finally be the club’s day.

So many breaks were going their way. All of the season’s fine performers in this burgeoning team stepped up and went beyond. If Palace’s name was on the cup, Dean Henderson’s name will likely be synonymous with the 2025 final. His 36thminute penalty stop from Omar Marmoush was the pick of a series of brilliant saves.

An extremely agitated Pep Guardiola, who ended a frustrating game by confronting Henderson when he tried to shake his hand, might well complain that the goalkeeper shouldn’t even have been on the pitch. Henderson’s deliberate handball outside the area as Erling Haaland bore down on goal was not ruled a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity by the officials. It was just one more moment that went Palace’s way, the sort of controversy that just furthers the folklore of the day.