Crystal Palace reached their first FA Cup final since 2016 with a 3-0 win against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.
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Palace into FA Cup finalEze & Sarr with screamers at WembleyVilla lacked energy in disappointing lossFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE
After a quiet start, Palace had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark through Jean-Philippe Mateta, who robbed Ezri Konsa of possession before firing beyond Emi Martinez. However, referee Anthony Taylor had already pulled it back for a foul on the England defender, with Mateta judged to have come through the back of him.
But with their next attack, the Eagles had takeoff. Ismaila Sarr wriggled away from Pau Torres and Lucas Digne before cutting back to Eberechi Eze, whose shot from 20 yards flew past a helpless Martinez and into the top corner.
Villa were nearly level shortly before the break when a wicked corner found the head of Konsa, but Dean Henderson was on hand to push the ball to safety right as it threatened to cross the line. Palace had another chance of their own on the stroke of half-time, with Tyrick Mitchell slipping at the wrong time when teed up inside the opposition box by Sarr.
On the other side of the interval, John McGinn and Digne both brought fine saves out of Henderson with a pair of swerving half-volleys separated by 30 seconds as Villa sought to get a leveller.
That push appeared to be dealt a hammer blow when Eze was felled by Boubacar Kamara inside the penalty area and a spot-kick was awarded. A brave and confident Mateta stepped up, but he put his effort wide of the right-hand post to the elation of Martinez and those draped in claret-and-blue.
Though the momentum had seemed to swing back the way of Villa, Palace added their second soon after. Youri Tielemans was dispossessed by Adam Wharton, and Sarr was allowed to run several yards before having a crack, beating Martinez with a super strike to double the Eagles' lead.
Villa's efforts seemed more and more futile, with Leon Bailey's strike deflecting over off the knee of Torres perhaps best surmising their failed attempts to make a game of it. And midway through seven minutes of added time, Sarr had his brace as Palace sprung forth on the counter attack to see off the game and book their spot in next month's final.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE MVP
It was magic from Eberechi Eze that got Palace to the semi-final, it's magic from Eze that has now helped see them into the final. His screamer to beat the so-called world's best goalkeeper was outrageous and a piece of ingenuity in-keeping with both his trademark style and legend on this run.
Over the last few weeks, fans across the country have bemoaned that quality has come out of the game, that it is now lacking in mavericks and geniuses who made us fall in love with the sport in the first place. This was largely brought about by a completely dull and lifeless Manchester derby, but since then, football has seen some fantastic spectacles. Eze was one jewel in Palace's crown, and Ismaila Sarr was another.
The Senegal winger was handed only pity minutes by manager Oliver Glasner at the start of the season, but has now reached undroppable status for good reason. It was his selflessness for the team which led to Eze's opener, and then he took matters into his own hands to fire Palace into two and three-goal leads in the second half. Even if Palace don't go on to take home the trophy, their fans will reserve a special place in their hearts for Sarr and the joy he brought today. Honourable mentions should also be reserved for goalkeeper Dean Henderson, midfielder Adam Wharton, and pretty much anyone else in a red-and-blue shirt.
AFPTHE BIG LOSER
It's not been a great couple of weeks for Emi Martinez in the spotlight he often seems so eager to climb into. After gaffes against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City over the last fortnight, he could have done with a huge display at Wembley to remind the world why he has two Yashin Trophies.
Instead, he was beaten by three strikes which were, in fairness, fierce and direct, but those which 'the world's number one' would have maybe gotten a hand on. Factor in he celebrated Mateta's missed penalty as if he had saved it himself to take all the glory and you have a third infamous outing for Martinez in the second half of April alone.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
For Palace, whose chances of qualifying for Europe via their Premier League finish are extremely slim and have little left to play for in that regard, they can think ahead to next month's final back at Wembley, where they will take on one of Nottingham Forest or Man City. Villa, meanwhile, must dust themselves off and get ready to dive back into the battle for a Champions League place, starting next Saturday at home to Fulham.
