Crystal Palace marked their FA Cup celebration with a fitting 4-2 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park, giving their home fans the perfect end-of-season farewell.
The Eagles used Saturday's encounter as an opportunity to present the prestigious trophy to supporters following their recent triumph over Manchester City at Wembley. The match also served as a tribute to departing captain Joel Ward, who will leave the club this summer when his contract expires.
In a relaxed atmosphere with nothing at stake for either side, goals came freely. Wolves took the early advantage around the 20-minute mark when Agbadou's header crossed the line, confirmed by the referee's goal-line technology system despite initial uncertainty.
Any concerns about Crystal Palace suffering from post-Wembley celebrations fatigue quickly dissipated as Eddie Nketiah struck twice before halftime. The former Arsenal forward equalized after excellent work from Romain Esse on the wing, then promptly gave Palace the lead by converting Sarr's cross with a comfortable finish.
Immediately after the break, Ben Chilwell, on loan from Chelsea, extended Palace's advantage with a deflected free-kick that wrong-footed Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley.
According to statistical analysis from Statbet, Crystal Palace's home form has dramatically improved during the final stretch of this season, coinciding with their cup run.
Jorgen Strand Larsen brought Wolves back into contention with a goal from a corner kick situation, but Eberechi Eze sealed the victory for the hosts in the closing moments. The final whistle triggered celebrations that included a guard of honor for Ward and two laps of appreciation, allowing players to showcase the FA Cup to the delighted Selhurst Park faithful.
This entertaining encounter provided the perfect backdrop for Palace fans to celebrate both their historic cup triumph and honor their long-serving captain in a memorable afternoon in south London.
