Eberechi Eze leads Crystal Palace to greatest day and further raises hope of historic end to season | OneFootball

Eberechi Eze set the tone with the opening goal as Crystal Palace booked a place in this season’s FA Cup final

Star man: Eberechi Eze starred as Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup final

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Even the most senior of Crystal Palace supporters would be hard-pushed to think of a greater day in their history.

Palace, understandably, started rather cagily and, perhaps, passively too, and had barely touched the ball by the time Mateta was felled by Boubacar Kamara. Out came a sea of hands in the Palace end, desperate for a booking for Kamara. It duly arrived, and finally there was something to cheer and something of a foothold in the game.

Glasner orchestrating their every move from the far reaches of his technical area, they grew in confidence, starting to play the opponent, not the occasion. Marc Guehi pirouetted round Marco Asensio skilfully, drawing a cheer.

And something to cheer even more loudly, just a few moments later, when Mateta scraped his way past Ezri Konsa and tucked into the net. The whistle had blown from Anthony Taylor, though, for a foul on Konsa. No goal, but Palace were on the up.

Then came Eberechi Eze’s greatest moment in a Palace shirt in five years at the club. Pau Torres cleared the ball against the body of Sarr, and the Senegalese winger was off, chasing it, pulling the ball precisely across for Eze. From outside the box, he needed just one touch to twist the ball with feeling towards the top corner. As the net bulged, Eze just stood there in sheer nonchalance.

After Mateta had turned elegantly past Matty Cash and crossed for Sarr to head over, Villa found exerted greater pressure and might well have levelled the semi-final from a succession of corners, but for resolute defending at each juncture. Konsa’s header was parried by Dean Henderson, who made some spectacular saves and utterly deserved his clean-sheet. Sarr and Daichi Kamada (a surprise start who played so well) were back to volley clear.

The only person faster to disappear down the tunnel at half-time than Glasner was Unai Emery, and his side started the second half a resurgent force. John McGinn and Lucas Digne fired crisp volleys on goal which Henderson tipped wide. He was played superbly and he knew well.

Then a twist as Eze got the wrong side of Kamara, tumbled, and won a penalty. Jean-Philippe Mateta was the man for the big occasion until, that is, he struck the spot-kick. It flew wide, leaving Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, ever the antagonist, celebrating as though he’d saved it. A lifeline for Villa? A turning point?

Not a bit of it. Mateta regrouped, Palace regrouped, and Sarr tore forward, leathering past Martinez to double Palace’s lead and prompting a deafening cheer as he hurtled towards the Palace faithful.

Glasner’s men dug in, defended well but never deep, maintaining that all-important threat on the counter. On came Eddie Nketiah (for the naturally disappointed but tireless Mateta), as well as Ben Chilwell, Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma.

Nketiah wanted his first unforgettable moment in a Palace shirt, firing on goal but denied. Then it came, as he won the ball high up and fed Sarr. Another oh-so-calm finish followed — and then bedlam in the Palace end and long into the night.