FA Cup Final 2025: Crystal Palace defeat Man City in major upset

Al Jazeera - May 17th, 2025
Open on Al Jazeera

Crystal Palace claimed their first major trophy in history by defeating Manchester City 1-0 in a thrilling FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Eberechi Eze's first-half volley was the decisive goal, sending Crystal Palace fans into rapturous celebrations. Dean Henderson, formerly of Manchester United, delivered a stellar performance in goal, thwarting Manchester City's multiple scoring opportunities, including a saved penalty. Despite City's early dominance and relentless pressure, Palace managed to hold their ground and secure a historic victory under the leadership of coach Oliver Glasner, marking his achievement as the first Austrian manager to win the FA Cup.

This triumph for Crystal Palace signifies a major shift in English football dynamics, as Manchester City, a dominant force over the past decade, ends the season without a domestic trophy for the first time since 2016-17. The victory marks a joyous occasion for Palace, who previously fell short in the FA Cup finals of 1990 and 2016. The outcome highlights City's struggles this season, despite their aggressive lineup and attempts to reclaim their stronghold in English football. The win not only cements Palace's place in the football elite but also signals potential new challengers in the competitive landscape of English football.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive and accurate account of Crystal Palace's historic victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final. It effectively captures the key moments and significance of the event, offering a balanced perspective that highlights both teams' performances. While the article is timely and engages readers, its credibility could be enhanced with explicit source citations and greater transparency about the reporting process. Despite these minor shortcomings, the story is well-written and accessible, appealing to a broad audience interested in sports news. Its focus on a major sporting event ensures its relevance and potential to spark discussion among fans, although it is unlikely to provoke significant controversy.

RATING DETAILS

9
Accuracy

The story accurately reports Crystal Palace's victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, stating that it was the club's first major trophy, with Eberechi Eze scoring the decisive goal. This claim is consistent with the documented event details. The description of Dean Henderson's crucial saves, including a penalty stop, aligns with match reports, reinforcing the story's factual accuracy. Additionally, the narrative about Manchester City's missed opportunities and possession dominance is supported by game statistics. However, the article could improve by providing more explicit citations or references to bolster its claims, but overall, it presents a highly accurate account of the event.

8
Balance

The article provides a balanced view of the match by highlighting both Crystal Palace's triumph and Manchester City's shortcomings. It describes Palace's successful strategy and Eze's pivotal role while also acknowledging City's strong start and missed opportunities. However, the focus is predominantly on Palace's victory, which is understandable given the historic nature of their win. The narrative could be slightly biased towards celebrating Palace's achievement, but it does not unfairly diminish City's efforts, maintaining a fair representation of both teams' performances.

8
Clarity

The article is well-written, with clear language and a logical structure that makes it easy to follow. The narrative flows smoothly from the match's key moments to the broader implications of the result. The tone is neutral, focusing on delivering the facts without unnecessary embellishment. However, some readers might benefit from additional context or background information, particularly regarding the significance of the FA Cup or the teams involved, to enhance comprehension further.

7
Source quality

The article does not explicitly cite sources, which slightly affects its credibility. However, the details provided are consistent with widely reported facts about the match, suggesting reliance on reliable sources like official match reports or reputable sports news outlets. The lack of direct attribution to specific sources or authorities means readers must trust the publication's reputation for accuracy. Including explicit references would enhance the article's credibility and reliability.

6
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of sourcing and methodology. It does not disclose how the information was gathered or who provided it, which could lead to questions about potential biases or conflicts of interest. While the story is factually accurate, greater transparency regarding the sources of information and the process of reporting would strengthen its trustworthiness. Providing context about the reporting process would help readers understand the basis for the claims made.

Sources

  1. https://www.thefa.com/news/2025/may/17/emirates-fa-cup-final-crystal-palace-manchester-city-report-20251705
  2. https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/fa-cup-final-score-crystal-palace-win-first-major-trophy-as-dean-henderson-shuts-out-manchester-city/
  3. https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/crystal-palace-player-ratings-vs-man-city-eberechi-eze-dean-henderson-fa-cup-final/bltec7adeb51998615d