Ryan Wild
Eze and Sarr Inspire a Historic Night for the Eagles
Crystal Palace produced a stunning performance to sweep aside Aston Villa 3-0 at Wembley Stadium and reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 2016. Goals from Eberechi Eze and a brace from Ismaïla Sarr capped a memorable evening for Oliver Glasner’s side, who now stand just one game away from their first major trophy.
Villa, by contrast, were left shellshocked. After a promising season that saw them fight for a Champions League spot in the Premier League, their FA Cup dreams ended in disappointment. Unai Emery, who earlier in the week had apologised to Villa fans for the club’s FA Cup exit ambitions, could only watch as his side were dismantled by a more determined Palace outfit.
Palace Take Control After Cagey Start
The match began cautiously, with both teams feeling their way into the occasion. Early possession was shared evenly, but it was clear that Crystal palace attacking players looked the more threatening when they got on the ball.The breakthrough came in the 31st minute, and it was a moment of pure brilliance. Eberechi Eze, who has been in sensational form in recent weeks, picked up the ball just outside the Villa box. With a quick shimmy to create space, he unleashed a curling strike that flew beyond Emiliano Martínez and into the top corner. The goal sent the Palace faithful into raptures and firmly tilted the momentum in their favour. Villa struggled to respond. Their midfield trio, usually so reliable, were overrun by Palace’s energy and organisation. John McGinn and Douglas Luiz failed to create clear chances, while Ollie Watkins was starved of service upfront.
Missed Penalty, No Problem
Shortly after the break, Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty when Mateta was bundled over in the box. The French striker stepped up himself, but his tame effort was saved by Martínez, offering Villa a brief lifeline.
However, Palace refused to let the miss affect them. Just minutes later, they doubled their lead. A swift counterattack saw Michael Olise and Ismaïla Sarr combine, with Sarr cutting inside from the right and driving a low shot into the bottom corner.
With a 2-0 advantage, Palace began to enjoy themselves. Their passing was crisp, their movement sharp. Villa, meanwhile, looked increasingly demoralised, unable to break down the organised Palace defense.
In stoppage time, Villa’s misery was complete. A defensive mix-up gifted possession to Sarr, who coolly slotted past Martínez for his second of the evening. The final whistle blew shortly after, confirming a famous victory for Crystal Palace.
Glasner’s Impact Can’t Be Understated
Much credit must go to Oliver Glasner, who has transformed Palace since taking over just over a year ago. Known for his tactical discipline and ability to inspire underdog teams — as he famously did at Eintracht Frankfurt — Glasner has imbued Palace with a belief and togetherness that was fully on display against Villa.
“The players deserve this,” Glasner said after the match. “They stayed focused, stayed calm, and trusted the process even when results were difficult earlier in the season. Tonight, they showed what they are capable of.”
Indeed, Palace’s journey to the final has been marked by resilience, grit, and no shortage of quality. Their fans, who have waited so long for a major trophy, now have genuine reason to dream.
Emery and Villa Left Searching for Answers
For Unai Emery and Aston Villa, this defeat will sting. After exiting the Champions League and now the FA Cup, their season is threatening to unravel. Despite being in the mix for a top-four Premier League finish, Villa’s performances in key knockout games have raised concerns.
Speaking after the loss, captain John McGinn said, “Today was a hard one to take. Crystal Palace deserved it. We didn’t show our best. But we’ll stick together and fight to end the season strongly.”
Whether Villa can refocus in time to salvage their league campaign remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: missing out on silverware this year will be a bitter disappointment.
Palace Set Their Sights on Wembley Glory
Crystal Palace will now prepare for the FA Cup final against either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest. Few will make Palace favourites if they face City, but after a performance of this quality, they will back themselves against anyone.
Victory would not only deliver the first major trophy in the club’s 119-year history but also secure Europa League football next season — a huge reward for a team that many tipped for a relegation battle not long ago.
With Eze, Olise, Sarr, and Mateta hitting form at just the right time, the Eagles may finally be ready to soar into footballing history.
