Crystal Palace 2-1 Watford: Connor Wickham nets winner to set up Man Utd final

Crystal Palace will play Manchester United in a repeat of the 1990 FA Cup final after beating Watford 2-1 in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley.

Yannick Bolasie headed Palace into an early lead but Troy Deeney levelled the match on 55 minutes.

But with the game on a knife edge, Connor Wickham popped up with the winning goal on 61 minutes to send Palace to their first FA Cup showpiece since losing out to United in a replay following a memorable 3-3 draw. 

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew scored the winner for the club in their semi-final win in 1990 and the opening goal, 26 years on, evoked memories of that famous goal against Liverpool.

Pardew was on hand that day to nod home after a near post flick-on and the same corner routine was used to unlock the Watford defence on six minutes.

Yohan Cabaye drove a corner into the unguarded near post area to Damien Delaney, who flicked a looping header towards the back post which was bravely nodded home by the spring-heeled Bolasie.

Watford were struggling to deal with the Wembley occasion in the early stages but were almost gifted a way back into the match on 19 minutes.

Allan Nyom whipped in a sublime cross from the right that caused panic in Palace's ranks. Scott Dann ducked out of the way of the ball and Joel Ward almost deflected the ball into his own net but it drifted just wide of the post.

Watford's flow was further disrupted on 32 minutes as influential midfielder Etienne Capoue was stretched off nearly in tears with a serious looking knee injury.

Palace continued to look the more threatening after the break with Bolasie breaking free down the left on 49 minutes but his effort from a tight angle was deflected over the crossbar by the foot of Costel Pantilimon.

Watford drew level on 54 minutes with their first effort on target.

A corner from the left was swung right into the edge of the six yard box and Deeney showed brilliant strength to hold off Dann and flick his 11th goal of the season into the net.

The Watford end of Wembley were now in full voice, but they were silenced back into their seats just six minutes later.

Wickham has failed to set the world alight since joining from Sunderland for £7million but he repaid some of that price tag with this Wembley goal.

Pape Souare found half a yard to swing a seemingly mediocre ball into the Watford box. Wickham had pulled onto the diminutive Nathan Ake and he towered above him to skilfully head home from 12 yards.

Watford had only won one of their last nine Premier League matches and confidence looked low as they tried to mount a late rally.

Their best chance to fell to Odion Ighalo with eight minutes left but he snatched at a presentable opportunity from a Deeney flick on.

Wilfried Zaha should have made the last few minutes more comfortable than they were but he failed to finish off an epic 50 yard run into the Watford box and was similarly wasteful when firing into the side netting from a tight angle.

One last opportunity fell to substitute Adlene Guedioura for Watford but much like Ighalo minutes earlier, his finish failed to test Wayne Hennessey.

Palace held out and their fans celebrated wildly at the full-time whistle. They will be returning to Wembley on Saturday May 21 to take on the 11-time winners.