By KBC Associate 
Eberechi Eze continued his remarkable scoring form to sweep resilient Crystal Palace ahead with a wonderfully worked goal in the 16th minute of the FA Cup final 2025 – and Manchester City then spurned a penalty.
Palace soaked up a succession of early City attacks before Daniel Munoz raced down the right and found Eze inside the box, who fired in first time with his right foot for the England international’s sixth goal in his last five matches in all competitions.
“That really is an incredible goal,” former Three Lions striker Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. “It’s only the second time they’ve been past the halfway line.”
FA Cup Final Free Bets – Bets UK Betting Offers, Tips & Predictions For Crystal Palace vs Man City
2025 FA Cup final: Eze goal vs City
“It really, really is an impressive goal,” said Shearer, adding that City goalkeeper Ederson had “no chance”.
“The ball up to [Jean-Philippe] Mateta, the centre-forward play to hold it up, then the running off the ball from Muniz, then the quality to pick his head up and pick the right pass to Eze.
“Could he finish it off? Absolutely. That is Crystal Palace in a nutshell – from back to front, punishing you. Who says possession is key? They’ve been under huge pressure for the vast majority of this game.”
EZE!!!!
CRYSTAL PALACE ARE IN FRONT AT WEMBLEY 🔥#FACup pic.twitter.com/cEw7voYVwK
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 17, 2025
FA Cup final 2025: Marmoush penalty saved
While Palace manager Glasner celebrated the goal in animated fashion, City top scorer Erling Haaland was seen with his hands on his hips in the aftermath and team-mate Bernardo Silva was seen scratching his head.
There was more first-half misery to come for City when Omar Marmoush’s first penalty for the club was saved by Dean Henderson.
January signing Marmoush fired his spot kick to Henderson’s right but the England goalkeeper guessed correctly and sprung to beat the effort away before returning to his feet to gather the ball from City’s attempt to capitalise from the rebound.
Why didn’t Haaland take City’s penalty?
Haaland, who has missed three of his seven penalties in all competitions in 2024/25 including one at Bournemouth in the quarter-finals, appeared to decide against taking the opportunity, kissing the ball and Marmoush’s head while handing the opportunity to the Egypt striker.
“What a save that is,” said Shearer, who was a penalty specialist on his way to becoming the all-time record scorer in the Premier League during his playing carer, which ended in 2006.
SAVED BY HENDERSON 🚫
Omar Marmoush misses from the spot ❌#FACup pic.twitter.com/PfvBowkW6V
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 17, 2025
“The goalkeeper is in control of that situation, guesses right and [makes] a big, strong save to keep it out.
“[Haaland’s] fit enough to start the game, so it must be mentally that he’s either said he doesn’t want it or [City manager] Pep [Guardiola] doesn’t want him to take it.
“That is a big surprise to me, though. I wouldn’t be prepared to give up a penalty in a cup final – no chance.
“City will be kicking themselves that they’re not at least level, because they’ve had a couple of really good chances.”
FA Cup 2025: TV channels
Fans have been able to watch this season’s competition on the BBC and ITV, and the final is being shown on BBC One and ITV1.
FA Cup final online streams
The BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer app and ITV.com and the ITVX app are the places to watch the FA Cup final live.
Both apps are available on a wide variety of devices, allowing supporters to follow the drama on the go.
Man City FLEW out of the blocks yesterday! 🚀🔥#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/v3bc10Qjrn
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 28, 2025
FA Cup 2024/25 prize money
Here are the figures published by the FA for how much the winners and losers receive at various stages.
Third round – winners £115,000 / losers £25,000
Fourth round – winners £120,000
Fifth round – winners £225,000
Quarter-final – winners £450,000
Semi-final – £1 million / £500,000
Final – £2m / £1m