Crystal Palace

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Until this season, Eberechi Eze had never scored in a senior cup competition - not for QPR or Wycombe on loan, and never for Crystal Palace.

He now has five this season, and in each of the past two rounds of the FA Cup, a moment of Eze brilliance has broken the deadlock in the first half and put a crack in the opposition's spirit.

If the lone question mark over his Premier League season has been his goalscoring record compared to years past, it's doubtful anyone will mind that he saved his best for these vital games in another competition.

In Palace teams of the recent past, the focus was restricted to a couple of key attacking players, often that classic tandem of wingers, but the feeling is that this squad is more complete - it has more potential match-winners.

After all, this was a game in which Jean-Philippe Mateta saw a goal dubiously disallowed and a penalty hit the post. Yet others were there to step up in his place rather than the collective heads dropping.

The atmosphere and the pilgrimage to Wembley would have made the day memorable on their own. Winning the game in such a dominant fashion against one of the form teams in England was bordering on the unbelievable.

The flags were already waving in the lower tier into stoppage time, with the game all but won, obscuring the view of many as Ismaila Sarr delivered a third goal in the dying minutes.

It is only a few weeks until the fans descend again onto Wembley Way. We've had our lovely day in the sun now, seen familiar faces and revelled in a victory together. Manchester City are up next, and Palace are turning up with every intention to win it, and there's little reason to doubt them.

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Crystal Palace "were sensational" against Aston Villa , says The Telegraph's Luke Edwards.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Edwards said Palace "did a job" on Unai Emery's men, totally outperforming a squad that made it deep into the Champions League this season.

"If they hadn't had such a bad start to the season then who knows where they could have ended up in the league because they have been one of the better sides over the second half of the season," Edwards said.

"Oliver Glasner got it spot on and the big players showed up for them in what was a complete team performance.

"And the fans turned up as well. I have read a lot about how loud the Palace fans were compared to the Aston Villa end. You could see how much it meant to them.

"As an old romantic, I hope Palace win the final because they have not won a major trophy before. They certainly have the chance to because although they play Manchester City, there are still some vulnerabilities in that side

"We have seen it with Newcastle winning the Carabao Cup this season and it is a great story."

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Crystal Palace fans, we asked you to send in your photos from your magical day out at Wembley.

It turned out to be a fantastic trip to the capital - definitely one for the memory books - so let's relive the whole experience!

Manchester United remain interested in signing Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 27, if they are unable to win the race for Ipswich Town's English forward Liam Delap, 22. (GiveMeSport, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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What a day!

A semi-final that will last a lifetime - unless of course next month's follow-up ends in ultimate glory for Crystal Palace.

Have you got any photos of your day out? We cannot publish those taken inside the ground but any others that show the atmosphere and how you enjoyed the experience, send them our way.

You can upload over here - and we'll publish a selection on Monday.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup semi-final between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, as Oliver Glasner's side sealed their spot in the final at Wembley.

Here are some of your replies:

Chris: This team just fizzes with excitement when playing at their best. Ismaila Sarr is a criminally underrated signing of the season for Palace and improvements from players such as Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell and Dean Henderson have been immense. On their day, they can go toe to toe with anyone. Bring on the final!

Jamie: Incredible. We dominated the famous Villa on the pitch and in the stands. I fancy us against whoever we play in the final. Up the Palace!

Chris: Outstanding. Our best performance of the season (so far)! We could have, and perhaps should have, been 3-0 up at half-time. Then if you add the missed penalty and the two second-half goals... 10 out of 10 for all of the players, but 11 out of 10 for tactical genius Oliver Glasner.

Bill: Very rarely do you have the pick of at least 11 players for man of the match. From Henderson's heroics to Sarr's lethal finishing, every single player turned up and played at their best. We thoroughly deserved the win and our place in the final.

Al: To a man, we were exceptional. We executed the game plan perfectly and the only time Villa threatened to get on top was after the penalty miss. But the fans lifted the team and Sarr did the rest. Daichia Kamada's reincarnation as James McArthur is a great surprise too.

Carolyn: The best birthday present. Well done Palace. The supporters were fantastic and there was a real family feel in the stands. Everyone was congratulating each other when the goals went in. It was a great way to celebrate.

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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to BBC Sport about the performance: "All credit to the players. They had to work so hard and they had to overcome a few difficult moments. We got more control and it was an unbelievable performance today. The players stuck to the plan and we never lost our heads.

"We had to make smaller adjustments. Villa played with the front four, a very narrow four and they always try to pass to their sixes. We said that our three attackers had to control their two sixes and two centre-halves.

"The first goal was about winning the ball and second goal was unbelievable counter-press from Adam Wharton. The players did excellent.

"I spoke to the chairman [Steve Parish] a few weeks ago and, if our start of the season had worked, I would get three months off this summer and then come back one week before the start of the Premier League!

"The most important thing is everyone stayed calm in the club. The team are such great guys, they always believed in us and we have always had a great togetherness."

On celebrating tonight: "I don't know at the moment, I feel a bit exhausted. The players have four days off now. The players should enjoy the moment."

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Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has been speaking to BBC Sport following the FA Cup game: "Superb. I thought they were excellent. All credit to the manager and the players, you can see what it means to them.

"I thought today was a real celebration for the fans. Two clubs who haven't won a lot of honours in recent times, for us never. A great occasion at Wembley and we stand at the edge of doing something we've never done before.

"I got the tube here with the fans, it was a fantastic experience. It takes two hours to get here in the car!"

On Oliver Glasner: "I never had any doubt. Watching him work, the positivity and the way he his, he loves football. He always believes we can win and he instils that in his players."

On the final: "Touching distance [of something special]. Every game is a different story so we will see what happens tomorrow [in the other semi-final]."

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Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson has been speaking to BBC Sport about the win: "Absolutely delighted - over the moon. We haven't been on the greatest run of form, but the lads came out and put on a show today.

"We were waiting for those moments, we sat in the block and, with the pace we have got, we hit them on the break.

"If we can perform like we did today in the final, then anything is possible. The lads were outstanding. If we play like we did today, we can beat anyone.

"We have got to enjoy it, so we will be celebrating tonight."

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Crystal Palace goalscorer Eberechi Eze has been speaking to BBC Sport about the Eagles' sealing their spot in the FA Cup final: "A special day. I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to play here, to win, to go to the final. We want to go all the way and we believe we can do it."

On his goal: "I saw the opportunity to shoot. I'm always trying my luck, always taking shots. We work on this stuff all the time. I'm grateful to God that I have scored today and helped the team."

On his teammate Ismaila Sarr: "He is top. I probably got this [man of the match award] prematurely, so I will probably be giving it to him inside. But he has helped us so much this season."

On the potential to win Crystal Palace's first major trophy: "100% confident. We show performances like this all the time. We are not worried or fearful of facing anyone.

"I trust us that we will put in the work and hopefully we can do it."

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Crystal Palace have reached their third FA Cup final in their history, previously doing so in 1989-90 and 2015-16.

The Eagles have beaten Aston Villa in three of their four meetings in all competitions this season (D1). It is the first time they have beaten a side three times in the same season since 2015-16 against Stoke City.

Oliver Glasner's side recorded their 10th clean sheet in all competitions in 2025, the most of any Premier League side since the turn of the year.

Only Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes (both 6) have scored more goals from outside the penalty area in all competitions this season, among Premier League players, than Eberechi Eze (5).

Were you at Wembley or following from elsewhere?

Palace fans, what did you make of the game?

What did you think of your team's performance, Villa fans?

Come back to this page on Sunday to find a selection of your replies