Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup final for the first time in nine years after two goals from Ismaila Sarr and a superb strike from Eberechi Eze secured a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday. Oliver Glasner's side took the lead in the semi-final with a powerful long-range strike from Eze, while Sarr scored twice more in the second half to seal the result. In the final on May 17, Crystal Palace will face Manchester City who defeated Nottingham Forest with a score of 2-0.
The Eagles have never won the FA Cup, losing their previous two finals to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016. Manager Oliver Glasner said after the match:
"All the credit goes to the players. They worked incredibly hard and managed to overcome some difficult moments. We managed to control the game better and put in a fantastic performance. The players followed the plan and didn't lose focus. I honestly don't know how I feel right now, maybe a little tired. The players will have four days off and they should enjoy this moment."
On the other hand, Aston Villa, who last won the FA Cup in 1957, were hoping to return to a final for the first time since 2015. But Unai Emery's team put in a poor performance and will now have to focus on fighting for a place in the UEFA Champions League, by finishing in the top five of the Premier League table. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery commented on his team's defeat:
"After the first goal, the game became much more difficult for us. Only after the second goal did we react and create some chances, but we failed to score. On counterattacks they were very dangerous and deserved the victory. I apologize to our fans who were very motivated. We have to accept this defeat and react quickly, because in the championship we have the most important objective."
When betting on the FA Cup, flexibility is essential, especially due to the unpredictable nature of this competition. Many punters prefer to use betting sites that offer cashout option, giving them the opportunity to secure their winnings or minimize their losses before the end of the match. Whether you're betting on an upset or a favorite, choosing a cashout site can make all the difference during the excitement of the FA Cup.
Manchester City defeats Nottingham Forest 2-0
Manchester City showed their experience in big matches by winning without much difficulty Nottingham Forest and qualifying for the third consecutive FA Cup final. Pep Guardiola's side will face Crystal Palace on May 17 at Wembley, having lost the Premier League title to Liverpool's victory over Tottenham. City dominated from the start, and within two minutes Mateo Kovacic set up Rico Lewis, who scored a goal.
Forest struggled in the first half, while City created several more chances. Early in the second half, Forest missed a golden opportunity through Anthony Elanga, and a few minutes later Josko Gvardiol doubled City's lead with a header. Forest tried to fight back, hitting the crossbar and post three times, but Stefan Ortega saved everything else and City secured their place in the final.
With his team in fourth place in the table, 21 points behind Arne Slott's side, Guardiola warned that an FA Cup win and a UEFA Champions League qualification through a top-five finish would not be enough to hide a disappointing season. The Spanish coach said:
"No, the damage would be minimal. This will not make anyone believe that the season has been good. The club must make the right decisions, so that next season is better. We are a billion points behind Liverpool. I have often said that this season has not been good, because we judge the season by performance in the Premier League. This season we did not succeed, we are trying to minimize the damage. Now we must be calm and recover."
FA Cup – A history of over 150 years!
The FA Cup has a history of over 150 years and during that time the sport has changed significantly, from Wanderers' victory in the 1871-72 season over Royal Engineers, to the recent derby between Manchester United and Manchester City. An interesting fact is that the Football Association Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is the oldest football competition in the world. Since 1871, every year (with the exception of years during the world wars when the competition was not held), teams from all over England and Wales have competed for the famous FA Cup trophy.
This season, the new edition of the FA Cup kicked off in August, with 732 teams from across the country competing to secure a place in the first round. The most recent final was a spectacular one, with Manchester United managing to overthrow the 2022-23 champions, Manchester City, and win the derby away from Wembley. Arsenal and Manchester United have reached the most FA Cup finals, with 21 each, but the Gunners hold the record for the most titles won, with a whopping 14 trophies.
The FA Cup final is approaching and it's the perfect time to bet on your favourite team! The excitement is greater than ever, and now you have the chance to win too. Don't miss out — place your bet now and be part of the FA Cup magic!
A trophy full of history
The FA Cup winners receive the legendary trophy, which is not permanently awarded to them, but is on loan from the FA and must be returned by 1 March or by special notice. The trophy consists of three parts: the cup, the cap and the base. Two designs have been used throughout history, while five physical trophies have been awarded. The original cup was stolen in 1895 and has never been found. The new, larger design was introduced in 1911 and to preserve the original trophy, in 1992 and then in 2014 stronger replicas were created by the masters of Thomas Lyte, preserving the traditional details of the original trophy.
