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‘I knew which way he was going’: Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson on saving Omar Marmoush penalty in FA Cup final

Henderson said that Erling Haaland deciding against taking the spot kick made it a little bit easier for him.

Crystal Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson makes a save against Manchester City's Omar Marmoush during the English FA Cup final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Former Manchester United and current Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was one of the big reasons why Pep Guardiola ending the season without a trophy with Manchester City with the English goalkeeper pulling off a stunning penalty save to help the London club win their first ever trophy.

However, Henderson said that Erling Haaland deciding against taking the spot kick made it a little bit easier for him. Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush was the one to take the strike which was saved by the goalkeeper. a moment that proved pivotal in the match.

“It’s incredible, we had a feeling it’d be our day today. The manager had a game plan, we executed. We deserve this so much. Haaland might’ve stepped up, I didn’t know which way he’d go, but Marmoush, I knew which way he was going. I knew I would save it,” Henderson said to BBC Sport.

DEAN HENDERSON.

The @CPFC shot-stopper with an incredible save to deny Omar Marmoush from the spot 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Mxf5URv9K6

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 17, 2025

Haaland, City’s usual penalty taker, decided to let Marmoush take the crucial penalty kick with 10 minutes left in the first half and Palace 1-0 up after Eberechi Eze’s early goal, but Henderson guessed correctly to deny him. This also sums up a harrowing campaign in which City were dethroned as the powerhouse of English football and will go without a domestic trophy for the first time since 2016-17.

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City manager Guardiola had expected Haaland to take the penalty and said the decision for Marmoush to take the penalty was made by the players on the pitch. “They decided on the pitch. I thought he (would) want to take it,” Guardiola said of Haaland after the game. “We didn’t speak. There are questions in the meetings, and there are things that are ready for them,” he said to BBC.

“That moment for the free-kicks, the penalty, is especially about how you feel. They saw that Omar was ready to take it.”