FA Cup final recall: Crystal Palace and Man City’s results in previous Wembley finals

We now know Crystal Palace and Manchester City will lock horns at Wembley on May 17 to battle for the honour of lifting the 2025 FA Cup trophy.

We have mapped out both Palace and Man City’s road to the final following their semi-final wins over Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest respectively.

And now Sports News Blitz Academy writer Max Snigorski takes a look at the two rivals’ record in previous finals they have contested.

Crystal Palace 3-3 Manchester United, May 12, 1990

Crystal Palace were set to battle with the red side of Manchester at Wembley. The Eagles had never grasped major silverware and faced Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils to try and earn it.

Gary O'Reilly gave Palace the lead with a looping header in the 18th minute, to give the underdogs hope of lifting the FA Cup.

Bryan Robson responded 17 minutes later with his own header, from a Brian McClair cross, nodding it towards the near post before Nigel Martyn could react.

In the 62nd minute Paul Ince slid in front of Andy Thorn’s clearance. The block perfectly landed in the path of Mark Hughes, who hammered the ball in the top right corner of the net, establishing United’s lead.

Three minutes after his entry to the pitch, Ian Wright beat Gary Pallister to earn a clean look of the goal. Wright dispatched the ball into the far bottom corner to get Palace back into the game.

As the game was tied after 90 minutes, extra time was permitted. Two minutes into extra time a beautiful cross from Palace’s John Salako found the boot of Ian Wright, who poached it into the net, placing one hand on the trophy for Crystal Palace.

With only seven minutes left until Palace emerged victorious, United’s Danny Wallace found Hughes behind the Palace defence. Hughes tucked a precise shot past Martyn to deny an underdog story.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester United, May 17, 1990

After failing to see out the original FA Cup final, Crystal Palace had to try and upset the Red Devils in the replay.

However miracles were not present this time.

A Neil Webb cross picked out the prolonged run of Lee Martin, who smashed the ball into the near side of the goal.

The goal turned out to be decisive, destroying any work Palace did five days before and ensuring United lifted the cup.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United, May 21, 2016

Palace were once again in a FA Cup final, and once again Manchester United stood in their way.

The first half was full of many chances for both sides, including a notable Marouane Fellaini strike which hit Wayne Hennessey’s crossbar.

The first goal came in the second half for the Eagles.

Jason Puncheon was located by Joel Ward’s smart switch of play, and he calmly took the ball down before blasting it into David De Gea’s near post.

Three minutes later, a superb Wayne Rooney solo run turned into a cross towards Palace’s box.

Fellaini controlled the ball with his chest, dropping it down to Juan Mata’s left boot.

Mata struck the ball towards the far side of the goal but it was Ward’s deflection that nestled it into the near corner and away from Hennessey.

Into extra time, Palace looked threatening and were given an advantage by Chris Smalling’s second yellow card to take United down to 10 men.

After many missed chances, United were on the attack with Antonio Valencia.

Valencia's cross was intercepted by Damien Delaney, unfortunately for Crystal Palace, Jesse Lingard was alert, and rocketed the loose ball into the top left corner to crush Palace’s FA Cup redemption ideas.

Palace have been in the FA Cup final in two different seasons, both against Manchester United.

This season the Eagles will hope to get the better of the other side of Manchester, and finally lift silverware, along with their first season in European competitions.

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Manchester City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers, April 23, 1904

Manchester City’s first FA Cup final came in 1904, where the Sky Blues faced the Trotters to decide which First Division side would win England’s famous cup competition.

Man City triumphed against Bolton, due to City’s main man Billy Meredith. This win earned Manchester City their first ever major trophy, and set them on course for many more.

Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Manchester City, April 24, 1926

Bolton took revenge on the Sky Blues, this time at Wembley. Bolton’s David Jack was able to grab the decisive goal with 14 minutes left to play.

Bolton were able to seal revenge and become the first team to win the FA Cup at Wembley twice.

Everton 3-0 Manchester City, April 29, 1933

Man City were back at Wembley Stadium, seven years after their most recent final loss to Bolton.

It was a familiar story with this time City being dismantled, and they ended up losing 3-0.

Jimmy Stein, James Dunn and current record holder Dixie Dean were able to wipe aside Man City with each of them hitting the back of the net.

Manchester City 2-1 Portsmouth, April 28, 1934

Manchester City took on Portsmouth in the 1934 FA Cup final.

After being unable to win the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium, disaster struck for the Sky Blues, as Septimus Rutherford hit the back of the net to give City a mountain to climb.

As the clock ticked away, with less than 20 minutes to go it looked like a repeated outcome, a loss at Wembley - but City’s Fred Tilson was able to get his team on level terms, before scoring again, this time minutes before the final whistle.

Tilson’s masterclass in attack gave Manchester City their first FA Cup in 30 years.

Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester City, May 7, 1955

Man City arrived back at Wembley, the stadium that denied them the trophy lift two times.

The drought continued for City. Jackie Milburn put the Magpies ahead in the very first minute.

However, City managed to get themselves back in the game with a goal from their Bobby Johnstone.

That was City’s highlight of the game, as Newcastle firmly responded with two goals in the space of seven minutes to brush off Manchester’s blues and add to more grief for City fans.

READ MORE: FA Cup recall: A look at Man City’s road to final clash v Crystal Palace at Wembley

Manchester City 3-1 Birmingham City, May 5, 1956

Just under a year later the Citizens were back, but certainly not confident.

Manchester City had still lost three FA Cup finals at Wembley. However, it was their game and an early goal from Joe Hayes put City on track to overcome Birmingham.

All hope was lost when Birmingham's Noel Kinsey levelled the scores, and a repeat of the first two Wembley trips was expected.

A quickfire double from Jack Dyson and Bobby Johnstone filled the City fans with hope and also relief, they had a two-goal cushion with 25 minutes to go.

City ended up hanging on to the FA Cup trophy, and won again at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City, April 26, 1969

Manchester City and their fans were hoping for a repeat of the last FA Cup final, this time against new opposition, Leicester City.

A Neil Young goal, followed by intense defending to see out the game, secured City’s third FA Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Manchester City, May 9, 1981

Manchester City were confident they could bring two previous FA Cup final wins with them to overcome Tottenham Hotspur.

The game started in City’s favour with Tommy Hutchison opening the scoreline in Man City’s benefit.

Hutchinson later scored an own goal to tie up the game.

Man City were defeated five days later in the replay, losing 3-2. Man City were briefly leading 2-1 but two late goals destroyed City’s hope.

Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City, May 14, 2011

After another 30-year FA Cup drought, Manchester City were back in the final playing Tony Pulis’ iconic Stoke City team.

Pulis’ troops were known for their bizarre throw-in tactics and aerial threat - but to their disappointment City emerged victorious.

The game was level, until a Yaya Touré strike from inside the box flew into Thomas Sørensen’s net and broke Stoke’s hearts.

Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City, May 11, 2013

Severe underdogs Wigan took on recent winners Man City for the FA Cup final.

The game was extremely tight, and with many close chances missed, the scoreline stayed blank for the majority of the game.

A Pablo Zabaleta red card opened up attacking possibilities for Wigan.

One of these chances was taken by substitute Ben Watson, who headered a cross into the net in the final moments of the game.

Manchester City 6-0 Watford, May 18, 2019

The Citizens were back at Wembley - and no mistakes were made in this game, with a complete domination of a lower quality Watford team leading to a six-goal win.

Pep Guardiola’s first FA Cup was gifted to him by most notably Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, who both collected three goal contributions.

Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United, June 3, 2023

For the first time in FA Cup history, Manchester United faced Manchester City in the final.

An İlkay Gündoğan strike inside the first 60 seconds put Manchester City ahead and on track for a demolition.

Bruno Fernandes tied up the scoreline 30 minutes later with a composed finish from the penalty spot.

City did not drop their heads at sight of their rivals scoring, and captain Gündoğan hit his second volley of the game into the back of the net, this time with the help of a deflection.

Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City, May 25, 2024

Manchester City were looking to once again reign supreme against their fierce Manchester rivals.

A grave miscommunication between City’s Gvardiol and Ortega gifted United’s

Alejandro Garnacho an open net, along with the lead.

Nine minutes later, a dangerous United attack fell to Bruno Fernandes in the box. He deceivingly teed up youngster Kobbie Mainoo, handing Manchester United a two-goal lead.

Minutes from the end, City’s Jérémy Doku managed to find the back of the net with a well-deserved solo goal.

Unfortunately for the sea of light blue the goal was too little, too late and Man United were able to hang on to the trophy lift.

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