Crystal Palace book Wembley slot blowing away Aston Villa in FA Cup clash

Crystal Palace have booked their slot at Wembley after blowing away Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final clash on Saturday.

Palace reached their first FA Cup final since 2016 with a 3-0 win against Villa at Wembley on Saturday, setting up a final for either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City, who play on Sunday.

The win takes Palace one step closer to winning the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

The fireworks started when Ismaila Sarr wriggled away from Pau Torres and Lucas Digne before cutting back to Eberechi Eze, who made no mistake from 22 yards, bending home a beautiful strike in the 31ts minute.

Villa got exposed on many occasions as Palace went direct and with incisive attacks.

Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta failed to make it 2-0 on 53 minutes after blazing his penalty wide after Eze had been tripped.

Villa tried to regroup after the break, but Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was called into action to make a big save to deny John McGinn’s clever volley, however, Digne fired through a crowd, narrowly wide of Henderson’s right post with a follow-up shot.

A much-determined Palace did not have to wait long to get the two-goal cushion as Sarr smashed home a zinger of a strike from range seven minutes later, before wrapping up the game in injury time on the counterattack.

Unai Emery’s Villa huffed and puffed without much conviction in the final third.

Ismaila Sarr smashed home a zinger of a strike from range, before wrapping up the game in injury time on the counterattack(Image credit: Getty Images)

The painful FA Cup semi-final loss means their wait to lift the Oldest English competition goes on – a journey that stretches as far back as 68 years since they last did so.

The results could shatter the confidence of the Claret and Blue, coming from a mid-week forgettable late defeat to fellow Champions League contenders Manchester City – and now, this.

Emery’s team still has four games to go in the campaign as they try to finish in the top five to secure Champions League football.

In a sober mode, the Spanish manager apologised to the supporters for the loss, as they now focus on their next Premier League clash with Fulham.

“Our priority is the Premier League. Premier League is the most important.

“I told you everyday, we enjoy Champions League and try to get something in the FA Cup, but be consistent through the Premier League.

“The objective is next week against Fulham.

“I am sorry to the supporters but I dominate my frustration.”