London, England – Eddie Nketiah scored twice on Tuesday as Crystal Palace celebrated their FA Cup triumph with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park. The match came just days after Palace lifted their first major trophy.
Palace, still buzzing from their Wembley win, faced an early setback when Emmanuel Agbadou headed Wolves into the lead in the 24th minute. However, the home side quickly responded, with Nketiah scoring two goals in just five minutes to flip the match on its head.
Nketiah’s first was a powerful finish following a cutback from Romain Esse, leveling the score shortly after Wolves’ opener. He then netted his second by converting Ismaila Sarr’s cross, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
Ben Chilwell added a third for Palace in the second half, his free-kick taking a deflection off Agbadou to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. Although Jorgen Strand Larsen pulled one back for Wolves with a header in the 62nd minute, Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who had come off the bench, sealed the match with a fourth goal late in the game.
The win marked a key milestone for Palace, bringing them past 50 points in a Premier League season for the first time since 1991-92. “The energy was incredible today; it’s not easy after such a huge achievement at Wembley,” said Palace manager Oliver Glasner. “Every player contributed to this success, and I’m proud of them.”
Postgame festivities were lively at Selhurst Park, with fans waving inflatable FA Cups and singing about their hopeful Europa League future following their cup victory. “There’s a belief in this squad,” said team captain Joel Ward, in his farewell match. “We want to take this club forward.”
Wolves, managed by Vítor Pereira, struggled to find rhythm throughout the match. After a promising start, they fell victim to Palace’s offensive blitz and saw their Premier League position remain precarious in 14th place. Pereira criticized his side’s defensive errors, stating, “We cannot compete at this level if we offer gifts, and today we gave away four.”
The lively fixture capped a historic week for Palace fans and players alike, as they look ahead to their next match against Liverpool. With their spirits high, the Eagles are set to embrace an anticipated European tour next season.
