Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa: Eze and Sarr shine as Glasner's men soar into FA Cup final

After already beating Villa three times in all competitions this season, the Eagles made it four in a row thanks to Eberechi Eze's wondergoal and a second-half brace by Ismaila Sarr.

Oliver Glasner's side will return to Wembley on May 17 for the showpiece match, where they will face either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City, who square off on Sunday.

Villa started the brighter of the two sides, with Boubacar Kamara's wild strike just after the 10th minute an early warning for Palace.

Morgan Rogers spurned a great chance soon after, bouncing a half-volley narrowly wide of Dean Henderson's right post following Lucas Digne's cross into the box.

Palace thought they had gone ahead when Jean-Philippe Mateta tucked the ball home, but the striker was penalised for a foul on Ezri Konsa when winning back possession.

But the Eagles soared into a 31st-minute lead via a moment of quality from Eze, who sent a curling first-time strike over Emiliano Martinez from the edge of the box.

5 - Only Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes (both 6) have scored more goals from outside the box among Premier League players in all competitions this season than Eberechi Eze (5). Eagle-eyed. pic.twitter.com/Ep2BZlUfyD

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2025

Tyrick Mitchell should have put Palace two goals in front on the stroke of half-time, but the full-back completely miscued from Sarr's ball back into the area as the Eagles ended the opening period in the ascendency.

Villa, however, came out fighting after the break, with Henderson making two brilliant saves to deny John McGinn and Digne in quick succession shortly after the restart.

But moments later at the other end, Palace were handed the opportunity to double their lead after Kamara tripped Eze inside the box, but Mateta was unable to convert the spot-kick, with his penalty clipping the post and going behind.

Despite that, Palace got their second in the 58th minute after Adam Wharton stole back possession, with the ball finding Sarr, who picked out the bottom-left corner from distance.

Villa almost reduced the deficit through substitute Leon Bailey, but his goal-bound effort from six yards out was inadvertently blocked on the line by team-mate Pau Torres.

Bailey then forced a smart stop from Henderson at his near post, before Sarr headed narrowly wide from Daichi Kamada's teasing delivery at the other end.

And while seven minutes of additional time were met with groans from the Palace supporters, they sealed the victory after poor play by the Villans deep in their own half.

Palace substitute Eddie Nketiah won the ball back from Youri Tielemans before sending Sarr on his way, with the Senegalese racing in on goal and finishing past Martinez.

Through Eze and Sarr, Palace became the first side to score two goals from outside the penalty area in an FA Cup semi-final since Chelsea against Tottenham in 2017 (Willian and Nemanja Matic).

Palace also became the first side since Spurs against Bournemouth in the Premier League in December 2018 to have two different players score from outside the penalty area at Wembley.

But Sarr proved to be the man of the moment. He has now been directly involved in seven goals against Villa in all competitions this season (five goals, two assists). Only Bruno Fernandes against Leicester City (eight) has more goal involvements against a Premier League team this term.

But for all of Palace's attacking brilliance, their defence was equally as important. The Eagles recorded their 10th clean sheet in all competitions in 2025, the most of any Premier League side since the turn of the year.