Crystal Palace are through to the 2024-25 FA Cup Final thanks to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.
The Eagles were beaten finalists in 1989-90 and 2015-16, still waiting for the first major trophy in the club’s 164-year history. Now they have another chance to finally get one on the board. And they have their dynamic duo of Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr to thank for the victory.
We shouldn’t be surprised either. Both Eze and Sarr have been fantastic for Palace in 2025, playing fantastic supporting roles to goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta.
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Since the turn of the year, Eberechi has been directly involved in 12 goals for Palace across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing seven assists. No Premier League player has provided more assists this year. He got his fifth goal against Villa, opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark.
It was a fantastic first-time finish from the edge of the box, generating the power to beat Emiliano Martinez from a standing position. It was the fifth goal Eze has scored from outside the box across all competitions this season, with only Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes (both six) scoring more among Premier League players.
Premier League players to score 5+ goals from outside the box across all competitions this season:
◎ Bruno Fernandes (6)
◎ Matheus Cunha (6)
◎ Mateo Kovacic (5)
◉ Eberechi Eze 🆕Eze has one at Wembley. 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/wNOwO01FVk
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 26, 2025
Eze was a real menace for the Aston Villa defence, who couldn’t do anything to stop him. The Englishman had two shots at Wembley, scoring from a total Expected Goals tally of 0.07. He completed two take-ons and produced four lay-off passes, the latter more than any other Palace player. As always, his linkup play was excellent.
Eze completed five of his seven attempted final third passes, and 19 passes overall with 41 touches. He dominated the left side of the pitch, but also made his mark around the edge of the Villa area and in the centre.
“When you want a piece of brilliance, and you want quick, silky feet to produce something very, very special, he’s done that this afternoon, it’s a great performance from him,” Alan Shearer said on commentary during BBC’s coverage of the game.
And when Aston Villa did manage to stop him, Eze was brought down in the box by a tackle from Boubacar Kamara, leaving Anthony Taylor no option but to point to the spot. The normally reliable Mateta missed the penalty, sending it wide of the goal. But it didn’t matter, thanks to Sarr.
Sarr had already made his mark on the game, setting up Eze’s opening goal, for his third assist of 2025 across all competitions. The Senegalese winger has been directly involved nine goals in 2025 across all competitions, adding to his tally with two second-half goals.
They were both excellent, but very different, finishes. The first came with another long-range effort, as Sarr drilled a low shot into the bottom corner past Martinez, after receiving the ball midway through his own path. Both the power and the placement of the shot had the goalkeeper beat.
Sarr’s second capped off the win and a fine counter attack with Villa having to push up to try to get back into the game. Again, Martinez was helpless in the Villa goal. It’s the third time this season that Sarr has scored and assisted a goal in a single game across all competitions, two of which have now come against Aston Villa.
Crystal Palace have reached the FA Cup final for just the third time in their history.
◎ 1990 (🥈)
◎ 2016 (🥈)
◉ 2025 🆕At least they won’t face Manchester United this time. 😅 pic.twitter.com/tKzYUgz1lu
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 26, 2025
Playing on the right side of Palace’s attack, Sarr made the flank his own, giving Ian Maatsen a rough afternoon. Sarr took four shots at Wembley, more than any other player, and completed his one attempted take-on.
What makes Sarr’s performance even more impressive is that he only had 18 touches of the ball. He was efficient with his moments on the ball and did a lot of damage while not in possession. It was a performance worthy of winning any cup semi-final.