Crystal Palace in dreamland as Eagles soar into FA Cup final at Aston Villa’s expense

CRYSTAL PALACE 3-0 ASTON VILLA: A stunning strike from Eberechi Eze and a brace from Ismaila Sarr secured Palace a spot in the FA Cup final as Unai Emery’s side were well beaten at Wembley

The Eagles have landed once again in the FA Cup Final – and this time they will be hoping it’s third time lucky. Wing wizards Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr conjured up three sensational goals to send Aston Villa into a tailspin and put South London on another high-alert for Wembley tickets.

Sarr, who set up the first-half opener for Eze, struck twice after the break after Jean-Philippe Mateta had missed a penalty to prompt Palace boss Oliver Glasner into dancing down the touchline in delight.

Twice before Palace have battled through to take a place in English football’s showpiece occasions – and both times they were beaten to the prize by Manchester United.

Glasner will now be looking to go one better than Steve Coppell and Alan Pardew by taking the oldest trophy in the game back to Selhurst Park for the first time. And the good news is, Palace won’t be playing United.

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Glasner’s men were huge outsiders against a team that is fighting for a place in the Premier League’s top five after a foray into the Champions League that saw them reach the quarter-finals before suffering a cruel defeat at the hands of favourites Paris St Germain.

But they had too much energy for Unai Emery’s side. They had more appetite for the battle – and they came up with two moments of quality that were good enough to win any game. Now Palace will be looking to wipe away the cruel memories of 1990 and 2016.

For Villa, the challenge is to prevent a season that promised so much descending into total despair. The east end of the stadium housing their 36,000 fans was deserted by the final whistle.

It was a slow-burner of a semi – but Palace’s greater firepower proved the difference. Oliver Glasner ’s underdogs also demonstrated a spirit that will stand them in good stead when they return to Wembley to meet Nottingham Forest or Manchester City in the final on May 17.

It took 12 minutes for the first shot in anger, Boubacar Kamara’s drive from distance rising too high. Kamara was booked for hacking down Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Marshall got the same punishment for hauling back Morgan Rogers.

Rogers was disappointed he failed to find a finish with this half-volley after Lucas Digne’s cross found him free at the far post.But then the contest exploded into action on the half-hour.

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Mateta was unfortunate to see a goal ruled out when referee Anthony Taylor decided he had fouled Ezri Konsa when replays proved the Frenchman was just too strong for the Villa centre-back.

Taylor’s mistake didn’t prove costly. Moments later, Sarr charged down Pau Torres’ clearance to pull a cross back between three Villa defenders.

It was perfect for Eze, lurking 20 yards out, and his first-time strike had too much venom and curl for keeper Emi Martinez.

The scenes in the Palace end were like a washing machine on maximum spin. The Londoners could have had another had Mateta’s cross, after embarrassing Konsa and Kamara, not been slightly too strong for Sarr at the far post.

Villa responded with a powerful downward header by Konsa that was scooped out by Palace keeper Dean Henderson. Konsa was then inches away from getting a decisive touch on John McGinn’s cross after throwing himself head first as it looped beyond the far post.

But Palace missed another great chance when Mitchell looked certain to give Sarr’s cross the finish it deserved only to miskick completely.

Villa came out of the traps after the break. McGinn saw his close-range volley tipped over by Henderson before the Palace keeper excelled to touch Digne’s curling effort around the post. They were also given a lifeline in the 52nd minute when Mateta missed a penalty.

Adam Wharton’s clever pass threatened to put Eze in on goal before he was sent sprawling by Kamara – and referee Taylor pointed to the spot. Mateta stepped forward but sent his penalty against the outside of Martinez’s left-hand post.

But once again it was Palace who responded to a set-back, while Unai Emery ’s men looked like a team running out of steam after losing ground in their bid for a top-five finish in the Premier League and being eliminated from the Champions League in recent weeks.

The Eagles really were flying high in the 58th minute. The outstanding Wharton snapped into a tackle to win the ball from Youri Tielemans before Mateta’s lay-off gave Sarr time and space to thrash a low 25-yard drive into the corner.

Sarr scored again in the fourth minute of injury-time, racing clear from the halfway line from substitute Eddie Nketiah’s pass to outwit Martinez with a smart finish.

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