New Delhi: Manchester City’s quest for a trophy this season came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday at Wembley Stadium as Crystal Palace pulled off a surprising 1-0 victory in the FA Cup final, leaving City without silverware once again. Despite splashing nearly €200 million in the January transfer window, Pep Guardiola’s side still fell short in all their major competitions
One of the most talked-about moments of the match was the penalty decision late in the first half. Normally, Erling Haaland is the man stepping up for City’s spot-kicks. However, with Palace leading 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Eberechi Eze, Haaland surprisingly handed the ball over to newcomer Omar Marmoush. The young Egyptian took the responsibility but saw his shot saved by Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita Henderson, dashing City’s hopes of an equaliser before halftime.
Dean Henderson, that is MASSIVE 😤 pic.twitter.com/Aw4r62Mwbt
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 17, 2025
This moment did not sit well with many, including former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Speaking on BBC Sport, Rooney expressed his disappointment in Haaland’s choice, comparing him unfavorably with the game’s greatest finishers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Haaland is a world-class striker, no doubt,” Rooney said. “But when you talk about Messi and Ronaldo, they wouldn’t just hand over the ball like that. They want to take every chance, especially penalties.”
Rooney went further, suggesting Haaland’s mindset is different from those legendary players. “These top players are selfish in a good way. They want to score every match. When Haaland misses chances, you can see it affects him mentally. Maybe the pressure of taking a penalty at Wembley was too much.”
Did Dean Henderson deserved a red card?
Another key talking point was a controversial moment involving City’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. Early in the game, Henderson appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area when Haaland seemed ready to capitalise. Although the referee and VAR reviewed the incident, no red card was given. The officials judged that the handball did not deny a clear goalscoring opportunity since the ball was moving away from the goal.
This decision sparked outrage among many football voices. Former City defender Joleon Lescott called it “one of the worst decisions” he had ever seen. Rooney himself criticised the use of VAR in this situation and called for its removal, saying the red card was obvious and the officials were trying to cover their mistake.
🚨 VAR OFFICIAL STATEMENT from the Dean Henderson handball outside the penalty area:
“The direction of play is going to the wide area, away from goal.” pic.twitter.com/e5JKlLMGZ0
— HF World (@hfworld_) May 17, 2025
Despite the drama, Henderson seemed unfazed when asked about the potential red card after the match. “I didn’t even know the VAR review was about me,” he said casually. “It doesn’t bother me.”
A tough season for Manchester City
For Manchester City, this defeat sums up a tough season where the club has been dethroned as England’s dominant force. The Citizens have missed out on all three major trophies, which clearly marks their first trophyless campaign since the 2016-17 season. They made the high-profile signings and heavy investment,t but struggled to find consistency and finish the job in crucial moments this season.
The FA Cup final loss will surely sting for the players and fans alike, but it also raises questions about leadership on the field, including whether Haaland has the same killer instinct in pressure moments as the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.
Crystal Palace stun Manchester City 1-0 in FA Cup final, securing their first major trophy in 119 years with Eberechi Eze’s early goal sealing historic win. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
