Crystal Palace keep party going as Eze's glorious goal wraps up win over Wolves
Afterparty at the Palace, a gala night of celebration at Selhurst Park. If this is a Premier League season that has, in the view of its critics, featured far too little jeopardy, then this result mattered little but the evening will be remembered as the night Crystal Palace brought the FA Cup home.
For the record, Palace were victors via two goals from Eddie Nketiah, a deflected free-kick and another Eberechi Eze strike. In truth, the main event did not arrive until after full time and the end of Selhurst Park's 101-year wait to show off a major trophy.
Related: David Squires on … moving scenes and mind games as Crystal Palace win the FA Cup
Eagles supporters can now dream of next season's European tour, the club's first, with the hope and expectation the precise but emotionally charged leadership of Oliver Glasner will lead them into that promised land. As fans waited for a glimpse of the Cup, the Europa League anthem played over the PA system.
Joel Ward, Palace's longest-serving player of 13 years, had led the team out at kick-off, his 364th appearance. Here, at last, was the night denied to Palace fans in 1990 and 2016. Alan Pardew, player and manager in those losing finalist teams, was sat in the stands between former teammate Mark Bright and club chairman Steve Parish. Ward, emerging from the dressing room, eventually ran out to present the trophy to the Holmesdale Road Stand, before being given a farewell led by an emotional Parish.
'I feel honoured and incredibly blessed,' Ward said. 'There's a belief in that changing room and I'm sure these lads will take this club forwards.'
Of Wembley's heroes, Dean Henderson played in goal, and Daniel Muñoz continued his raids down the right flank. Two January additions to 'Oliver's Army' in Ben Chilwell and Romain Esse, were handed first Premier League starts. Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton, missing through concussion protocols, were hailed from the stands when joining the post-match festivities.
'You always supported us, and that's why we could write history,' Glasner told Eagles fans. They had implored him all evening to give them a wave.
'It was a fantastic atmosphere,' he said, clearly unused to the traditions of English football support. 'Everybody shouted my name and I didn't know what they wanted and someone said I should wave. We always want everyone to have a great time at Selhurst Park and that they are happy.' Palace had also reached their highest Premier League points total.
Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, so important in beating Manchester City at Wembley, were among those given deserved rests until later. So too Daichi Kamada, faithful, trusted Glasner lieutenant.
With Wolves safe for some weeks, their coach Vitor Pereira also played an experimental team, handing a first Premier League start for the defender, Nasser Djiga. Next season at Wolves is awaited with optimism even if their coach's CV suggests he usually stays for a good time rather than a long time. 'We offered gifts to them,' he said, unimpressed by his team's performance.
His defensive partner, Emmanuel Agbadou, scored Wolves' 25th-minute opener, his neck muscles doing enough to power the ball inches over the line.
That did nothing to quieten Palace fans. Within three minutes, Nketiah's sharp finish drew the scores level. The south Londoner has been a slow burner but grasped his chance to shine with Muñoz and Ismaïla Sarr combining for his second. 'Everyone was firing and we got the win,' said Nketiah, on reaching 50 career goals. 'The unity between the fans and the players is amazing. It will be amazing to have European nights here.'
Within five minutes of the second half, Chilwell had scored his first Palace goal, his free-kick deflecting off Agbadou. Those in the Holmesdale Road Stand, shirts off now, paying little attention to the football, maintained their drum rhythm when Jørgen Strand Larsen scored a looping header. That proved the Norwegian's last action; Matheus Cunha was thrown on. When a tearful Ward was substituted in the 71st minute, Selhurst Park stood as one. Parish could be seen wiping his eyes.
As the players departed for their post-match lap of appreciation, Glasner and Ward, walking, talking together, got the loudest roar, Eze not far behind in appreciation. He had just shown that Wembley was no fluke – as if anyone could think that of one of English football's best players.
As Wolves threatened an equaliser, on came Eze. Soon enough, he was gliding through defenders with the grace that makes him both killer and stadium filler, giving the Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley no chance with a lovely, disguised finish. After that, Selhurst's celebrations could truly begin.
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