Dean Henderson was the hero on Saturday for FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. After the victory over Manchester City, the goalkeeper paid tribute to his late father and revealed that he was certain he would save Omar Marmoush’s penalty.
Crystal Palace etched their name into English football history with a stunning 1-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, securing the first major trophy in the club’s 119-year existence.
The underdogs from South London defied all expectations by toppling Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side at Wembley Stadium, thanks to a moment of brilliance from Eberechi Eze and a heroic performance from goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
From the opening whistle, Palace showed no signs of intimidation, despite facing a City side chasing another piece of silverware in what has become a golden era for the club. While City enjoyed more possession and territory, Palace were disciplined, well-organized, and patient a testament to the tactical preparation done by manager Oliver Glasner.
The breakthrough came in the 37th minute. A flowing counter-attack saw Michael Olise combine with Jean-Philippe Mateta, who laid the ball off to Eze on the edge of the area. With a sharp first touch and a quick shift to his right, the English playmaker fired a low, curling shot past Ederson and into the bottom corner. The goal sent the Palace end into sheer ecstasy, as Eze ran toward the stands in disbelief, mobbed by teammates who knew they were halfway to something special.
But it wasn’t until the second half that the drama truly intensified. In the 66th minute, Manchester City were awarded a penalty after a VAR check confirmed that Josko Gvardiol had been fouled in the box during a set-piece. Initially, all eyes were on Erling Haaland, who stepped forward, seemingly to take responsibility. However, in a surprise move, the Norwegian passed the ball to Omar Marmoush.
Speaking to the BBC after the final whistle, Dean Henderson shared a revealing moment from that exchange: "If Haaland had taken it, I wouldn’t have been sure which way he would go. But when Marmoush stepped up, I knew. I studied him before I knew exactly where he’d aim."
With the crowd holding its breath, Marmoush struck the ball firmly, but Henderson guessed right, diving low to his left and pushing the penalty away with a strong hand. The roar from the Palace supporters could be heard across Wembley. That save proved pivotal not just in maintaining the lead, but in breaking City’s spirit.
Henderson’s performance didn’t stop there. He commanded his box with authority, pulled off several crucial stops in open play, and exuded confidence that rippled through his defensive line. After the match, the 27-year-old was visibly emotional as he addressed the crowd and media.
"I lost my dad at the start of the season," he said, voice cracking with emotion. "I missed him out there today, but he was with me with every ball. I dedicate this win to him. He was my biggest fan, and I know he’s smiling somewhere right now."
The final whistle sparked scenes of unrestrained jubilation. Players collapsed to the turf in joy and exhaustion, fans wept in the stands, and coaching staff embraced on the touchline. For a club often overlooked among England’s elite, this was a triumph decades in the making. Palace’s only previous major final wins had come in the lower leagues, with two FA Cup final defeats in 1990 and 2016 still haunting their history. But now, those ghosts have been laid to rest.
Eberechi Eze, the match-winner, was named Man of the Match not just for his goal but for a performance full of flair, work rate, and leadership. "This is everything we’ve dreamed of," he said post-match. "To score at Wembley, in a final, and bring a trophy home to these fans there’s nothing better."
Manager Oliver Glasner praised his squad’s belief and unity: "We faced one of the best teams in the world and we never backed down. This team deserves this moment. The club deserves it. The fans deserve it."
Crystal Palace’s triumph also comes with a significant reward a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League. It will be only the third time in club history that Palace competes in a European competition, and the first since their brief UEFA Intertoto Cup appearance in 1998.
For Manchester City, it was a rare setback. Despite dominating much of the game, they failed to break down Palace’s defense and were uncharacteristically blunt in front of goal. Pep Guardiola was gracious in defeat, praising Palace’s spirit and acknowledging the challenge his team faced.
But this night belonged to Crystal Palace to Dean Henderson’s gloves, to Eberechi Eze’s moment of magic, to a team that believed it could write history, and did. From South London to the top of the English game, Palace have finally claimed their place among football’s great stories.
