Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada helped Crystal Palace win their first major trophy on Saturday as they beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final.

Kamada, who won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt under current Palace manager Oliver Glasner in the 2021-22 season, played a part in Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute winner as the London-based club lifted their first major trophy since they were established in 1861.

Having ridden an early storm from Manchester City, Eze volleyed home Daniel Munoz’s right-wing cross after Jean-Philippe Mateta exchanged passes with Kamada in the middle of the park on a counter at Wembley Stadium.

Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada (L) plays in the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London on May 17, 2025. (Kyodo)

Dean Henderson saved Omar Marmoush’s 36th-minute penalty after the Palace keeper was controversially not shown a straight red card earlier for handling the ball outside his area, and the London side held on to the slender lead in front of a crowd of 84,163.

“It turned out to be a really tough game but I’m glad we won. There’s a huge difference in winning it and finishing second,” said Kamada, the first Japanese player to play in an FA Cup final.

“I think making history is a wonderful thing for my career…It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I’m really happy.”

Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada (C) lifts the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium in London on May 17, 2025. (Kyodo) 

Former Lazio man Kamada won the cup in his first season at Crystal Palace, who will play in next season’s Europa League. Manchester City ended the season without a trophy for the first time since their first campaign under Pep Guardiola in 2016-17.

In Portugal, Hidemasa Morita helped Sporting CP defend their title as they beat Vitoria 2-0 at home and finished two points above local rivals Benfica, who drew 1-1 at Braga.

Hidemasa Morita (L) of Sporting CP and teammates Morten Hjulmand (C) and Viktor Gyokeres celebrate with the trophy after winning the Portuguese championship title in Lisbon on May 17, 2025. (Getty/Kyodo)

In Germany, Ritsu Doan volleyed in a 27th-minute opener for his 10th goal of the season in the German Bundesliga, but Freiburg went down 3-1 at home to Frankfurt to finish fifth, settling for a place in next season’s Europa League.

In France, Reims, featuring Junya Ito, Keito Nakamura and Hiroki Sekine, finished 16th in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 defeat at Lille. They will head to the promotion-relegation playoff with Metz, who finished third in the second division.

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