- WEMBLEY — Goals from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr sent Crystal
Palace to their first FA Cup Final in nine years with a 3-0 win over Aston
Villa at Wembley Stadium.
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- This is only the third time Palace have reached the final of
this competition, also getting there in 1990 and 2016 when they also lost to
Manchester United.
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- A pulsating encounter was ultimately decided by two goals of
the highest quality, as Eze put Palace ahead after half an hour with a stunning
curled effort from just outside the box before Sarr drilled home to double the
lead just before the hour.
Also read: FA Cup: Manchester City come from behind to defeat Bournemouth, clinch SF berth for seventh consecutive season
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- It proved a timely second for Palace, after Jean-Philippe
Mateta had missed a penalty for the Eagles just a minute earlier, but it was
not enough to dampen a famous afternoon for the South Londoners.
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- Villa pushed hard for a way back into the contest but were
unable to find a way past a resolute Crystal Palace defence, with goalkeeper
Dean Henderson producing a handful of fine saves.
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- The Eagles then wrapped up victory in style, as Sarr broke
free in stoppage time to slot home for his second, and Palace's third, of the
afternoon.
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- Crystal Palace, who are just a win away from lifting their
first major trophy in their 120-year history after a dream day at Wembley
Stadium,
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- will face the winner of Sunday's second semi-final between
Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
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- Villa have won the FA Cup seven times, but they have not
lifted the trophy since 1957. That 68-year wait to lift the FA Cup goes on, and
the Premier League is now their only route into European football.
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- Semifinal hero Eze said Palace will be "100%
confident" when they return to Wembley for the FA Cup final next month.
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- "It's a special day. I'm grateful to God for the
opportunity to play here, to win, to go to the final. We want to go all the way
and we believe we can do it.
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- "We're 100% [confident of winning the trophy]. 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," he told BBC Sport.