Crystal Palace reached their first FA Cup final since 2016 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Wembley, ending Villa's dreams of silverware for the season.

The match got off to a dramatic start with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early goal being ruled out for offside. However, Palace quickly settled into the game, and it was Eberechi Eze who broke the deadlock with a thunderous 20-yard strike that left Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez rooted to the spot.

Villa responded briefly, testing Palace keeper Dean Henderson with efforts from Ezri Konsa and John McGinn, but Henderson was equal to the task, preserving the Eagles' narrow lead going into halftime.

The second half brought further drama as Mateta missed a penalty, threatening to derail Palace’s momentum. But Ismaila Sarr proved to be the decisive force, capitalizing on a Villa turnover to drive forward and fire home a powerful strike, doubling Palace’s advantage.

As Villa pressed for a way back into the game, Sarr sealed the win with a third goal deep into stoppage time, finishing off a counter-attack to complete a career-defining performance.

While Sarr and Eze were outstanding, it was Henderson’s vital saves that kept Palace in control, ensuring their spot in the final. On the other hand, Martinez, already under scrutiny for recent high-profile mistakes, had no answer to any of the three goals, as Villa’s defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed.

Palace now await the winner of the Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City semi-final in the final, where they will aim to lift their first FA Cup trophy.

For Villa, the defeat is a bitter blow, with the focus now shifting to securing Champions League qualification through the Premier League, as they face the painful task of regrouping after a brutal collapse at Wembley.