Crystal Palace are through to the FA Cup final after beating Aston Villa 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. Goals from Eberechi Eze and an Ismaila Sarr double booked a place against either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in next month’s showdown. Watched on by Oliver Glasner, Palace defended resolutely and had Dean Henderson to thank for getting into such a strong position.
The match saw Palace’s three centre-backs marshaling the defense, with Marc Guehi and Chris Richards forming a solid partnership. Guehi organized the defense as a leader, patrolling a disciplined line and keeping things compact. Richards was extremely strong in the air and worked well with Guehi to keep Villa’s crosses out.
Eze’s goal on the half-hour mark got the game going, after what had been a quiet start. The Crystal Palace attacker scored a fantastic goal, showcasing his skill and technique. Ismaila Sarr added two more goals to seal the win, with Dean Henderson making several crucial saves to deny Aston Villa.
Henderson’s performance was impressive, with three big saves either side of half-time. His stop to deny Ezri Konsa was particularly notable, given the proximity. The John McGinn save was simple compared to the others, but the full-length dive to tip Digne’s effort away was inspired.
The win marks a significant achievement for Crystal Palace, who will now face either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup final. The team’s defense was solid, with Guehi and Richards forming a key partnership. Eze’s goal was a highlight of the match, showcasing his skill and technique.
The team’s performance was a testament to Oliver Glasner’s tactics, with the fans singing “super Oli Glasner” all afternoon. The win will boost the team’s confidence as they head into the FA Cup final, and they will be looking to bring home the trophy.
Player Ratings:
- Dean Henderson: 9 – Kept Palace in the game with three big saves either side of half-time.
- Daniel Munoz: 6 – Struggled to make an impact in the first half but did well to limit McGinn and Watkins on his side.
- Marc Guehi: 8 – Organised the defense as a leader, patrolling a disciplined line and keeping things compact.
- Chris Richards: 8 – Extremely strong in the air and worked well with Guehi to keep Villa’s crosses out.