Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa LIVE: Eagles blow Villa away to soar into FA Cup final
A place in the domestic showpiece is on the line in an intriguing clash at Wembley
Crystal Palace blew away Aston Villa at Wembley to give themselves a shot at lifting a first FA Cup trophy in their history.
After a slow start, Ebereche Eze fired in a stunner to bring the semi-final clash to life, just as he did in Palace’s last-eight tie at Craven Cottage.
Villa thought they had renewed hope when Jean-Philippe Mateta missed his penalty soon after the restart - but were quickly dealt a hammer blow when Ismaila Sarr doubled Palace’s lead from range.
Sarr put the icing on the cake in stoppage time as he slotted past Emi Martinez, sealing the Eagles’s place in only their third ever FA Cup final - now on the verge of a first major title.
Follow all of the latest from the FA Cup semi-final with our live blog below:
Report: Sublime Crystal Palace set up shot at FA Cup history and show others the way
This is what the FA Cup is supposed to be about. Crystal Palace are now one game away from history, after Eberechi Eze emphasised how he is the present, and maybe the future. You could say the same about Adam Wharton. The first won this semi-final against Aston Villa, the other ran it. Ismaila Sarr then offered the flourishes. All three players crucially elevated a supreme team performance, on an epic day for the club.
Villa meanwhile couldn’t get to that level, as if recent efforts have finally caught up with them. For Palace, this was everything, and you could tell. Eze and Wharton stood out but the collective effort was utterly immense.
There were so many blocks and ultra-committed challenges, of the type that only come when something greater is on the line; when players go deep into themselves. This would be of profound value, after all. Palace are the only club left in this FA Cup that have never won a major trophy.
Read Miguel Delaney’s full report from Wembley below:
Sublime Crystal Palace set up shot at FA Cup history and show others the way
Guehi keen for Palace not to get ahead of themselves
"It was a really tough game against really good opposition and in those games, it's about moments. We showed a real togetherness and good spirit today,” Guehi told BBC sport.
"We don't wan to get ahead of ourselves and it is important that we stay focused. At least we get to relax and enjoy the other semi-final and see who we will play.
"From the beginning of the season, every game we go to home and away it is the same noise. Thank you to the fans."
Eze hails Sarr after sublime double
"He's top,” Eze said of his attacking colleague, who bagged twice today.
“I probably got this [man of the match award] prematurely so I will probably be giving it to him inside, but he's helped us so much this season."
Henderson hails Palace performance: 'If we play like that, we can beat anyone'
"Absolutely delighted, over the moon,” Henderson told BBC Sport.
"We haven't been on the greatest run of form but the lads came out and put on a show today.
"We were waiting for those moments, sat in the block and with the pace we've got, hit them on the break.
"If we can perform like we did today in the final then anything is possible. The lads were outstanding. If we play like today, we can beat anyone.
"We've got to enjoy it so we will be celebrating tonight."
Who will Crystal Palace face in the final?
Crystal Palace have done what they needed to do to book their place in the FA Cup final.
Now, we turn to the other semi-final tie.
Nottingham Forest and Manchester City will battle it out tomorrow to see who joins the Eagles at Wembley in two weeks.
Here’s Richard Jolly’s preview ahead of the clash:
Gundogan’s Wembley return is reminder of how dominant Man City were
McGinn urges Villa players to get their heads up with Champions League race ongoing
"Obviously massive disappointment,” McGinn told BBC Sport. “The manager spoke at length in there to remind us of how far we've come. It's not to get away from the disappointment.
"What was at stake today was huge for both clubs, but for us we are craving success and a trophy. The club has not experienced that for a long time. But the manager doesn't have to rant and rave, it was a huge disappointment.
"We're going to use the hurt from today to come back stronger next season and hopefully get the supporters another trip to Wembley.
“The overriding feeling is hurt and disappointment. We've got an important last four games to achieve European football again and get us back to the Champions League so we can't sulk for too long."
Eze: 'We believe we can do it'
"Special day,” Eze told BBC Sport. “We want to go all the way and we believe we can do it."
“We have showed performances like this all the time, we're not worried or fearful of facing anyone. I trust us that we will put in the work and hopefully we can do it."
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