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

'It's a football game' - Glasner won't make FA Cup semi 'bigger than it is'

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:

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa LIVE

• 29' NO GOAL! Mateta goal ruled out after robbing Konsa [CRY 0-0 AST]
• 31' GOAL! Eze stunner opens scoring at Wembley [CRY 1-0 AST]
• 53' PENALTY MISSED! Mateta goes wide from spot-kick [CRY 1-0 AST]
• 58' GOAL! Sarr belter doubles Palace's lead [CRY 2-0 AST]
• 90+3' GOAL! Sarr adds to tally to put icing on cake [CRY 3-0 AST]
• Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
• Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Asensio, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins

[26 April 2025 14:00 · Miguel Delaney]

How the FA Cup semi-finals display the new dynamics of the Premier League’s disruptor clubs

At Crystal Palace over the last few days, Oliver Glasner has been finalising hard work on Aston Villa’s midfield with a light touch. The Austrian is appealing to his players’ childhood love for the game, telling them to listen to the schoolyard near the training ground. The point is to remind them that occasions like an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley are to be savoured, rather than feel intimidated by. This, in short, is why you got into football.

You could forgive Palace feeling some pressure this weekend, mind. They are the only one of the four clubs left to have never won a major trophy. It is no exaggeration to say it means more to them.

That is not to dismiss the long waits for silverware that Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have themselves endured, since either getting to the final would be an immense occasion, too. Their runs have nevertheless been part of greater surges. Both are aiming for the Champions League, with qualification likely to embolden two upwardly mobile clubs. Clearly, more is coming.

[26 April 2025 11:14 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa LIVE

It’s FA Cup semi-final weekend, four fanbases ready to descend on Wembley as their sides eye a shot at the annual showpiece. And what an intriguing bunch of clubs it is, too, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest joining perennial contenders in Manchester City to vie for cup success.

Saturday evening’s fare could be fascinating as Palace clash with Villa in a meeting of two savvy managers and talented squads - kick off is at 5.15pm BST.