Crystal Palace's record in FA Cup finals

The Eagles have reached the FA Cup final for just the third time in their history.

Crystal Palace outclassed Aston Villa in a 3-0 win last weekend and booked their place in the 2024/25 FA Cup finals. They will clash with the defending Premier League champions Manchester City on 17th May at Wembley Stadium. This will mark Palace’s third appearance in the world’s oldest football competition.

What a performance 🤩#CPFC pic.twitter.com/z3xK2j5GXX

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 26, 2025

They have never won a major title in their 120-year history. This will be a great opportunity for the Eagles to clinch their first piece of silverware. They played their last two finals in 1990 and 2016, respectively. Both were against Manchester United.

In this article, we will take a deep dive into Crystal Palace’s record in the finals of the FA Cup. Look at what went down when this historic club was just a game away from clinching this trophy.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (1990)

Crystal Palace first made it into the finals of this competition 35 years ago when they locked horns with the Red Devils, Manchester United. Despite finishing 15th in the league, they played their best football in the FA Cup. The Eagles qualified for the finals after eliminating the mighty Liverpool in a nail-biting semifinal encounter.

They were coming into the finals as the underdogs but opened the scoring when O’Reilly found the back of the net at the 18th-minute mark. However, the game was turned on its head when Robson and Mark Hughes scored to give the lead to Manchester United. After going behind, Palace brought on the legendary Ian Wright, who scored a memorable brace in the finals and announced himself to the world.

The game eventually ended 3-3. Manchester United won the replay due to a goal from Lee Martin. This was United’s first trophy in five years and the first one under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson. Crystal Palace did put up a great fight, but ultimately fell short in clinching their first-ever major trophy.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (2016)

There were a lot of similarities in the 1989/90 and 2015/16 campaigns for Crystal Palace. They finished 15th in the league table and avoided relegation by just five points in both seasons. Moreover, they reached the finals of the FA Cup and faced Manchester United as well.

They had to wait for 26 long years to get another shot at winning a major trophy. When Puncheon found the back of the net in the 72nd minute, history was in sight for the Eagles. However, Juan Mata equalised just nine minutes later.

The game went into extra time. An incredible strike from Jessie Lingard at the 110th-minute mark sealed the victory for Manchester United yet again. Under the management of Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace were a very solid side defensively, but could not get the job done against a 10-man Manchester United.

This win ended up being the only trophy United won under Louis van Gaal. The wait to win a major honour continued for Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (2025) – Winner: TBD

Crystal Palace surprised the entire world when they knocked out Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the semifinals of the competition and booked their place in the finals against Manchester City. They have maintained an incredible defensive record in the ongoing FA Cup tournament. They have only conceded one goal and will be coming into the finals on the back of four consecutive clean sheets in the competition.

We’ll see you again soon, Wembley 🦅 #CPFC pic.twitter.com/XfCQmk5L3I

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 26, 2025

Under the leadership of Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have turned into a formidable side that can tear down any defence on the counter. Manchester City, on the other hand, are having an underwhelming season so far. After failing to win the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League, the FA Cup is the only opportunity for them to win a title this season.

Considering what’s at stake, fans can expect a historic final next month. It will be interesting to see whether Manchester City will win another trophy, or third time will be the charm for Crystal Palace.

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