Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City 1:0 – ,,Palace Revolution" at Wembley...

Crystal Palace or: You’ll never wait alone! The London club Crystal Palace secured the first title in its club history with a 1-0 (1-0) win in the FA Cup final against the highly favored star ensemble of Manchester City. With former Bundesliga coach Oliver Glasner, “The Eagles” achieved something historic. 

On May 17, 2025, the time had come. Final at Wembley – Even long before kick-off, the “build-up” with the ever-optimistic Crystal Palace fans was fascinating to watch in the English football mecca. 

In Covent Garden, the first train stop on the journey from south London to Wembley, the “Holmesdale Ultras” set the rhythm for the red-and-blue supporters. Fans of the “Eagles” had even traveled from Australia. 

FA Cup Final at Wembley: “Absolutely electrifying atmosphere”

The sight of the London supporters walking along “Olympic Way” to Wembley Stadium, a view that strikes you with awe as soon as you exit the Wembley Park Underground, was captured by Vienna-based Palace fan Thomas Berger for Kicker.at. 

In Wembley Stadium, “star cutouts” of Palace’s Austrian coach Oliver Glasner could be seen, who became the first coach from the Alpine Republic to win this title. The optimism before the game against Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team worth over a billion was high, and the self-confidence of the apparent underdog was unshakable. 

First title for Crystal Palace? “It’s going to happen!”

“This is the day,” believed Palace fan Eugene Borges, who had traveled from Upton upon Severn (Worcestershire), “I’ve been a fan of Crystal Palace since the 1970s and the atmosphere is absolutely electrifying. The belief that it will happen today is strong. It’s going to happen.”

Yes, it was going to happen! Crystal Palace stunned last year’s finalist Manchester City after 16 minutes with a perfectly executed counterattack down the right side. Daniel Munoz spotted Eberechi Eze in the middle, and the England international scored from the penalty spot – 1-0! 

30,000 Crystal Palace fans on the stadium’s west stand erupted in celebration. And luck was on their side. In the 36th minute, Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, whom Pep Guardiola refused to shake hands with afterward, saved a penalty taken by former Frankfurt player Omar Marmoush. 

Erling Braut Haaland missed the rebound and the chance to equalize. The Norwegian superstar of Man. City couldn’t end his drought in finals – no goals, no assists in eight finals across all competitions. 

Manchester City won three titles without the striker contributing to a goal, including the Champions League in 2023 against Inter Milan (1-0 in Istanbul), but this time it ended in defeat. 

Ten minutes of added time 

However, the London fans’ footballing joy was delayed by the VAR-overturned 2-0 goal by Munoz (61st minute). It became a true test of patience. 

Ten minutes of added time were played, and then it was official: Crystal Palace’s first title win in 120 years of club history. 

Back in 1990 (3-3 after extra time and 0-1 against Manchester United) and in 2016 (1-2 in extra time against Man. United), they had reached the FA Cup final – only to watch the others celebrate. 

Looking back to 1990, that FA Cup final – then broadcast by ARD – between the “Red Devils” and Crystal Palace was one of the few, if not the only, live English football matches on German television that year. 

Back then, Crystal Palace was by no means a no-name team, with professionals like Nigel Martyn, Andy Gray, Ian Wright, or Alan Pardew. But the Premier League didn’t yet exist, and English football was on a different level, mostly employing players from Great Britain.

In 2025, it’s the likes of goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who exceeded expectations with spectacular saves, Eberechi Eze, top scorer in the FA Cup with four goals, former Frankfurt player Daichi Kamada, and Colombian Daniel Munoz as the playmaker who made this success possible. 

All in all, it was a team that seized its outsider chance, despite a market value gap of over 800 million euros compared to Manchester City – according to AI-based data from GOOL.ai / Fussballdaten.de 395.3 million vs. 1.2 billion euros.

This is football – that’s why we love it, and sometimes hate it so much. 

But the FA Cup is a competition made for heroic stories like this one, and that’s why FA Cup football trips will never lose their fascination. The fans agree. “Thank you, Crystal Palace,” wrote Instagram user Jimmy.Raffin, “the football world is a better place today.”

What Glasner really said in the royal box… 

The 107 steps to the royal box at Wembley felt endless – but for the first time, the Crystal Palace players and officials walked them as winners. 

Chatting with Crown Prince Prince William, president of the FA and an avowed fan of Aston Villa, Oliver Glasner jokingly said to his players at the moment of triumph: “You know he’s a Villa fan…” Cool.

Oliver Glasner dedicated this historic triumph to the long-suffering fans of the “Eagles.” “The greatest moment wasn’t lifting the trophy,” said the Europa League-winning coach of Eintracht Frankfurt (2022) later on the BBC, “but giving the fans this special moment for life.”