Crystal Palace 3 Aston Villa 0: Silverware dream over as Villa stutter in semi-finals
Villa’s long wait for a major trophy will extend into another season after they were soundly beaten by Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.
Stunning goals from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr mean Palace will return to Wembley to face either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest on May 17.
Eze opened the scoring when he fired into the roof of the net from just outside the box.
Sarr doubled the lead after Jean-Philippe Mateta had missed a penalty before sealing the win in stoppage time.
Analysis
Villa had their chances to get back in the match at both 1-0 and 2-0 down but were thwarted by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, excellent defending and on one occasion, their own player when Pau Torres blocked Leon Bailey’s goalbound shot.
That moment summed up a day when Villa could not match the edge of their opponents, who deserved the win.
For Unai Emery’s team, who were without loan star Marcus Rashford through injury, this was simply a day to forget. It was the same too for the 35,000 fans who travelled to Wembley dreaming of a first major final in five years and a step toward a first major trophy since 1996. Instead, many had left before the end.
While Palace’s first two goals were both superb strikes from distance, both came after Villa had lost possession in their own half.
It spoke plenty of a lacklustre performance, which lacked energy from the off. Eze’s brilliant goal allowed Palace to grasp control and though Villa sometimes threatened to find a way back, they could not get past Henderson or themselves.
Mateta's penalty miss, after Boubacar Kamara had brought down Eze, felt like a potential turning point. Instead, Sarr took the game away from Villa. The forward has scored five goals in four appearances against them this season.
For all the excellent work Emery has done at Villa, this felt like his worst day in the job.
There was a febrile atmosphere ahead of kick-off, Palace supporters behind the goal holding up flares meaning half the pitch was covered in smoke as referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle.
It is fair to say it took the match some time to catch fire. Nearly 12 minutes had been played before Boubacar Kamara became the first player to attempt a shot, his effort from distance comfortably clearing the bar. Watkins was unhappy the midfielder had not attempted a pass.
The first big chance of the match fell to Rogers when Palace switched off and allowed Lucas Digne’s cross to bounce through the box. Rogers could not get direction on the finish, which bounced past the post.
Palace had done little going forward but were then aggrieved not to be ahead when Mateta got the better of Konsa and slitted past Martinez. Referee Taylor had immediately blown for a foul on the defender, though replays suggested Villa were fortunate.
They would not be so lucky soon after. Sarr charged down Torres’ cross and from out wide was able to pick out Eze, who thumped his finish into the roof of the net with Martinez beaten for pace.
Stunned, Villa looked for a leveller. Torres headed wide, before Konsa was denied by Dean Henderson, who clawed his header off the line.
But it was Palace who had the best chance to score again before the break. Once again Sarr got free and this time he found Mitchell but the left-back, arriving to meet the ball 10 yards out, completely missed his kick.
Villa came out with more purpose after half-time but Henderson palmed away McGinn’s volley and then produced an even better stop to keep out Digne’s swerving effort at full stretch.
Then came the penalty. Adam Wharton looked for the run of Eze and Kamara collided with the Palace man. Mateta could not convert the spot-kick, sending the shot wide of the post.
It felt like a moment momentum might turn but within five minutes Palace were two up anyway. Wharton pounced on Tielemans’ pass, Mateta found Sarr and he crashed a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
That prompted changes from Emery but one of those players introduced, Bailey, saw an effort unintentionally blocked on the line by Torres.
Bailey was also denied by Henderson before, with 10 minutes remaining, Palace substitute Eddie Nketiah missed the chance to kill Villa off completely when he headed wide.
Straight up the other end Mitchell dived in to take the ball off Watkins just as he was about to tap home Maatsen’s cross.
It was all sealed in stoppage time, Sarr racing clear to finish after Tielemans was barged off the ball.
Key Moments
31 GOAL Eberechi Eze thumps a stunning strike into the roof of the net from outside the box after Ismaila Sarr charges down Pau Torres’ clearance.
53 MISSED PENALTY Boubacar Kamara brings down Eze but Jean-Philippe Mateta puts his spot-kick wide.
58 GOAL Sarr makes the penalty miss a distant memory, firing into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
90+4 GOAL Sarr seals it with his second of the game.
Teams
Crystal Palace (3-4-3): Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Kamada, Wharton (Hughes 88), Mitchell (Chilwell 84), Sarr, Mateta (Nketiah 78), Eze (Lerma 88) Subs not used: Ward, Clyne, Esse, Devenny, Turner (gk).
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne (Maatsen 60), Kamara (Barkley 70), Tielemans, Rogers (Malen 79), Asensio (Ramsey 69), McGinn (Bailey 60), Watkins Subs not used: Mings, Garcia, Malen, Onana, Olsen (gk).
