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Pep Guardiola's shocking decision costs Man City FA Cup final vs Crystal Palace
Pep Guardiola made a shocking decision that cost Manchester City in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace as the Eagles won the cup at Wembley for the first time in their history
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup final.
Eberechi Eze's goal was the difference as Palace won the competition for the first time in their history in a historic final at Wembley.
City dominated the game, but Palace had the heart to keep them at bay. And they made Pep Guardiola pay for a bizarre team selection, which could have suggested he had underestimated his opposition.
Guardiola has been known to overthink his selection in finals, most infamously when he named defensive midfielders Rodri and Fernandinho on the bench in the Champions League final defeat to Chelsea in 2021, instead starting Ilkay Gundogan as the deepest midfielder.
The Spaniard then threw a number of shocks again as he left Matheus Nunes and £50million January signing Nico Gonzalez on the bench, starting an incredibly attacking midfield of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva behind Savinho, Marmoush, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland.
Palace's energetic midfielder continued to cut through at will against the ageing legs of City's midfield, easily shown with Eze's goal as he broke away from midfield into the box.
Guardiola then sprung another bizarre surprise as he brought on 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri for his debut, having not even been named on the bench until the final despite joining up with City in January, ahead of £100m forgotten man Jack Grealish.
Eberechi Eze gave Palace the lead as they broke into City’s half for the first real time in the game in the 16th minute mark. After Jean-Philippe Mateta linked up with Daichi Kamada, he released Daniel Munoz down the right and into space.
The Colombian’s cross was coolly finished first time by Eze as he came running onto the ball from deep. A goal to light the fuse of the game and raise the red and blue end to get them dreaming.
Dean Henderson’s heroics, after he survived what should have been a straight red card for handling the ball outside the area, kept the Eagles in it with a number of stunning saves, including a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Omar Marmoush’s penalty in the first-half - another questionable decision from Guardiola as to why Erling Haaland didn't step up.
The pressure from City continued with more Palace defensive last-gasp intervention, but the cup final looked like it may have been anchored up when Munoz tapped home shortly before the hour mark, only for Ismaila Sarr to have been offside when the ball deflected off him.
Relentless waves of City pressure continued and the best chance fell the way of Echeverri. Found in space just eight yards out, his effort was hit at Henderson, who made another smart smothering save before Palace hacked the ball away on the rebound.
The Eagles eventually saw the finish line after 10 minutes of added-time. And the away end erupted when the full-time whistle was blown.
Crystal Palace. Worthy FA Cup winners.
Daily Star Sunday
Pep Guardiola made a shocking decision that cost Manchester City in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace as the Eagles won the cup at Wembley for the first time in their history
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup final.
Eberechi Eze's goal was the difference as Palace won the competition for the first time in their history in a historic final at Wembley.
City dominated the game, but Palace had the heart to keep them at bay. And they made Pep Guardiola pay for a bizarre team selection, which could have suggested he had underestimated his opposition.
Guardiola has been known to overthink his selection in finals, most infamously when he named defensive midfielders Rodri and Fernandinho on the bench in the Champions League final defeat to Chelsea in 2021, instead starting Ilkay Gundogan as the deepest midfielder.
The Spaniard then threw a number of shocks again as he left Matheus Nunes and £50million January signing Nico Gonzalez on the bench, starting an incredibly attacking midfield of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva behind Savinho, Marmoush, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland.
Palace's energetic midfielder continued to cut through at will against the ageing legs of City's midfield, easily shown with Eze's goal as he broke away from midfield into the box.
Guardiola then sprung another bizarre surprise as he brought on 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri for his debut, having not even been named on the bench until the final despite joining up with City in January, ahead of £100m forgotten man Jack Grealish.
Eberechi Eze gave Palace the lead as they broke into City’s half for the first real time in the game in the 16th minute mark. After Jean-Philippe Mateta linked up with Daichi Kamada, he released Daniel Munoz down the right and into space.
The Colombian’s cross was coolly finished first time by Eze as he came running onto the ball from deep. A goal to light the fuse of the game and raise the red and blue end to get them dreaming.
Dean Henderson’s heroics, after he survived what should have been a straight red card for handling the ball outside the area, kept the Eagles in it with a number of stunning saves, including a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Omar Marmoush’s penalty in the first-half - another questionable decision from Guardiola as to why Erling Haaland didn't step up.
The pressure from City continued with more Palace defensive last-gasp intervention, but the cup final looked like it may have been anchored up when Munoz tapped home shortly before the hour mark, only for Ismaila Sarr to have been offside when the ball deflected off him.
Relentless waves of City pressure continued and the best chance fell the way of Echeverri. Found in space just eight yards out, his effort was hit at Henderson, who made another smart smothering save before Palace hacked the ball away on the rebound.
The Eagles eventually saw the finish line after 10 minutes of added-time. And the away end erupted when the full-time whistle was blown.
Crystal Palace. Worthy FA Cup winners.
Daily Star Sunday