2025 FA Cup final
 The match took place at Wembley Stadium | |||||||
| Event | 2024–25 FA Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 17 May 2025 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Stuart Attwell (Birmingham)[2] | ||||||
| Attendance | 84,163 | ||||||
| Weather | Sunny | ||||||
The 2025 FA Cup final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 17 May 2025 between Crystal Palace and Manchester City that determined the winners of the 2024–25 FA Cup. It was the 144th final of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup.
Crystal Palace won the match 1–0 thanks to a first-half goal from winger Eberechi Eze, and a penalty save by goalkeeper Dean Henderson, which resulted in them winning their first ever major trophy. As winners, they earned the right to play in the league phase of the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League, as well as against Liverpool, the winners of the 2024–25 Premier League, in the 2025 FA Community Shield. This is the first ever time in their history they have qualified into a European Competition.
Route to the final
[edit]Crystal Palace
[edit]| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Stockport County (H) | 1–0 |
| 4th | Doncaster Rovers (A) | 2–0 |
| 5th | Millwall (H) | 3–1 |
| QF | Fulham (A) | 3–0 |
| SF | Aston Villa (N) | 3–0 |
| Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue | ||
As a Premier League team, Crystal Palace entered the tournament in the third round. They began their FA Cup journey with a narrow 1–0 home win over Stockport County; the lone goal scored by Eberechi Eze.[3] Palace then defeated League Two side Doncaster Rovers 2–0, with goals coming from Daniel Muñoz and Justin Devenny.[4] In the fifth round against Millwall, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was stretchered off just nine minutes into the match following a collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who was shown a straight red card for striking Mateta in the head with his boot—a challenge that left Mateta needing 25 stitches. With Millwall reduced to ten men, Palace quickly took control, earning a 3–1 victory through a Japhet Tanganga own goal, followed by goals from Daniel Muñoz and Eddie Nketiah.[5][6][7]
In the quarter-finals, Crystal Palace were drawn against fellow Premier League club Fulham. Despite being away at Craven Cottage, Palace comfortably dispatched the London side 3–0, with Eberechi Eze, Ismaïla Sarr, and Eddie Nketiah all getting their names on the scoresheet.[8] In the semi-finals against Aston Villa at Wembley, Crystal Palace secured a 3–0 victory courtesy of a goal from Eberechi Eze followed by an Ismaïla Sarr brace. This victory sent Palace through to their third FA Cup final, and their first since 2016, when they were defeated 2–1 by Manchester United.[9]
Manchester City
[edit]| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Salford City (H) | 8–0 |
| 4th | Leyton Orient (A) | 2–1 |
| 5th | Plymouth Argyle (H) | 3–1 |
| QF | Bournemouth (A) | 2–1 |
| SF | Nottingham Forest (N) | 2–0 |
| Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue | ||
As a Premier League team, Manchester City entered the tournament in the third round. City began their FA Cup campaign with a commanding 8–0 victory at home against League Two side Salford City. The majority of the goals came from James McAtee, who scored a second-half hat-trick, and Jérémy Doku, who scored a brace, with Divin Mubama, Jack Grealish, and Nico O'Reilly also contributing to the scoring.[10] This was their biggest win since defeating Watford by the same score in 2019. The Citizens survived an early scare against Leyton Orient in the fourth round, with goals from Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin de Bruyne required to nullify a Stefan Ortega own goal.[11] In the fifth round, City defeated Plymouth Argyle 3–1 despite an opener from Plymouth's Maksym Talovierov due to two goals by Nico O'Reilly, and a goal and an assist from Kevin de Bruyne.[12]
In the quarter-finals, Manchester City were drawn against fellow Premier League team Bournemouth, facing them away from home at Dean Court. Evanilson gave Bournemouth a first-half lead, but for the third match in a row, City mounted a comeback, with second-half goals from strikers Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush securing the victory.[13] In the semi-finals at Wembley, City comfortably dispatched Nottingham Forest by virtue of goals from Rico Lewis and Joško Gvardiol, winning 2–0. This marks the first time Manchester City has featured in three consecutive FA Cup finals, having previously played in the 2023 and 2024 finals respectively.[14]
Pre-match
[edit]The pre-match show featured DJ Tony Perry, supported by the Massed Bands of His Majesty's Royal Marines.[15] "Abide with Me", the traditional pre-match cup final hymn, was sung by Sinead Ashiokai, while Siena MBC performed the national anthem "God Save the King".[15]
Match
[edit]Details
[edit]
          Crystal Palace
|
     Manchester City
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[2]
|
Match rules
|
Broadcasting
[edit]The final was televised live in the UK on BBC One, ITV1, STV and UTV, and streamed via BBC iPlayer, ITVX and STV Player.[15] National radio coverage was provided by BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport,[15] with local radio stations BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Manchester also broadcasting match commentaries.[16][17]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Crystal Palace 1–0 Manchester City: FA Cup final player ratings from Wembley". The Guardian. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The match officials for all of our 2025 FA competition finals have been appointed". The Football Association. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Crystal Palace 1-0 Stockport County: Eberechi Eze nets the winner against League One club". BBC. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Crystal Palace beat Doncaster Rovers in FA Cup, will face Millwall". ESPN. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Report & Highlights: Palace blast past Millwall to reach FA Cup quarter-finals". Crystal Palace. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Jean-Philippe Mateta: Crystal Palace offer furious update after sickening head injury". FotMob. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Jean-Philippe Mateta injury: Millwall fans' applause shows apparent support for Liam Roberts after red-card challenge". Sky Sports. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "FA Cup Quarter-finals LIVE: Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace". BBC. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Sarr's sizzlers send Crystal Palace soaring into FA Cup final dreamland". The Guardian. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "James McAtee nets hat trick as Man City hammer Salford 8-0". ESPN. 11 January 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "City fight back to see off Leyton Orient in FA Cup thriller". Manchester City. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Teen O'Reilly helps Man City survive Plymouth FA Cup scare". ESPN. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Marmoush fires Man City into FA Cup semis with 2-1 win over Bournemouth". Reuters. 30 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Man City beat Forest 2-0 to reach third straight FA Cup final". Reuters. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "The running order of events at the 2025 Emirates FA Cup Final has been confirmed". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Crystal Palace v Manchester City (17/05/2025)". BBC Radio London. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Crystal Palace v Manchester City". BBC Radio Manchester. Retrieved 17 May 2025.