Crystal Palace reached their third FA Cup final in style as Ismaïla Sarr scored twice to see off Aston Villa and win 3-0 at Wembley.
A cagey opening succumbed to Palace pressure during the 25th minute of the first half. After a golden opportunity for Villa’s Morgan Rogers went begging, Palace took control. Jean-Philippe Mateta had a goal disallowed for a foul, but the warning went unheeded by Villa. Minutes later and Eberechi Eze struck to give Palace the lead with a cool finish from the edge of the box after being fed by Sarr.
Mateta missed a chance to double the lead early the second half when he hit the post from the penalty spot after Boubacar Kamara brought down Eze. But Palace did not have to wait long for their second with Sarr leathering a brilliant 25-yard strike beyond Emiliano Martínez.
Aston Villa took the game to their visitors without creating clear-cut chances and Sarr, breaking on the counter after a Villa free kick was cleared, rounded off the victory in stoppage time with his second in style. Palace will now face either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City in the final, while Villa return to their quest for a top-five Premiership placing.
