Eberechi Eze was nearly lost for words as he looked back on the goal that secured Crystal Palace’s historic FA Cup victory, admitting, “I just couldn’t breathe” after his match-winning strike.
The Eagles stunned Manchester City with a 1-0 win at Wembley, clinching the club’s first-ever major trophy. Eze’s decisive goal came in the 16th minute, the result of a blistering counter-attack. Charging into the box at full speed, he met Daniel Muñoz’s cross and buried it to give Palace an early lead.
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From that moment, it was a backs-to-the-wall performance. Palace endured relentless pressure from City, who dominated possession and launched wave after wave of attack. But the South London side held firm, with a series of crucial defensive blocks and inspired saves from Dean Henderson ensuring the clean sheet.
Eze credited the victory to Palace’s ability to capitalize on rare opportunities.
“They keep the ball so well—you have to work incredibly hard to get anything against them,” he said. “When you finally get up there, you have to make it count.”
It marked Palace’s third appearance in an FA Cup final, following painful defeats to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016. For Eze and his teammates, finally lifting the trophy—especially against a side as dominant as seven-time champions Manchester City—was a moment of pride and redemption.
“It’s special, man. I don’t even know what to say. I’m just grateful,” Eze added. “To face the best team in the world and show that kind of spirit and energy… Thank God. Only God can do this.”
Manager Oliver Glasner also praised Eze’s influence, noting his consistent impact during Palace’s cup run.
“He scored the opener against Fulham, then again versus Villa, and now the winner in the final,” Glasner said. “If you want to win trophies, you need top players—and we’ve got them.”
