When Crystal Palace fans made their way to Wembley, they didn’t just come to watch. They came to witness history. And history was exactly what unfolded under the famous arch as Oliver Glasner’s men dismantled Aston Villa with style, swagger, and a sprinkle of magic.
Eberechi Eze and Ismaïla Sarr wrote their names into Palace folklore, delivering a 3-0 masterclass that has sent the Eagles flying into their first FA Cup final since 2016.
The Eze Elegance
From the very first whistle, Eze was on it. Gliding past tackles, demanding the ball, setting the tempo. It was only fitting that he would be the man to open the scoring.
31 minutes in, Ismaïla Sarr picked up the ball out wide, skipped past his man and found Eze in space. What happened next was pure artistry. A curling effort from range that kissed the top corner, leaving Villa’s keeper rooted to the spot. Wembley erupted. Palace were in front, and it felt like they belonged there.
This wasn’t just a goal. It was a statement.
Missed Penalty? No Problem.
Early in the second half, Palace had the chance to kill the game when Eze was chopped down in the box. Penalty, no questions asked. Jean-Philippe Mateta stepped up… and heartbreakingly blazed it wide.
For a moment, there was a flicker of nerves among the Palace faithful. But not for long.
Sarr, electric all afternoon, took matters into his own hands.
58 minutes on the clock. One quick shimmy, one low bullet into the bottom corner. 2-0. Palace’s grip on the game tightened.
And when Villa pushed bodies forward in desperation, Palace pounced once again. Eddie Nketiah, fresh off the bench, turned provider, releasing Sarr on the counter. The Senegalese speedster made no mistake, slotting home his second of the day deep into stoppage time.
Three goals. Three moments of brilliance. Wembley sang their hearts out.
The Glasner Revolution
Oliver Glasner deserves his flowers. Since arriving, he has turned Palace into one of England’s most exciting teams to watch. A side packed with pressing intensity, technical flair, and most importantly, belief.
Adam Wharton controlled midfield like a seasoned general. Maxence Lacroix marshalled the backline with authority. Dean Henderson, when called upon, stood tall. It was a team performance, built on grit and crowned with glitter.
Villa, without their injured talisman Marcus Rashford, looked blunt and disjointed. Unai Emery's men were second-best all afternoon.
Next Stop: The Final
Crystal Palace now await either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup final. One last hurdle. One more shot at immortality.
But no matter what happens next, one thing is clear. This Palace team is flying, and they’re carrying a whole community with them.
Eze. Sarr. Wembley. Unforgettable.
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