Crystal Palace has yet to win the FA Cup in its 119-year history, but that wait could come to an end on Saturday in London.
Chris Richards and his Eagle teammates face off with Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup Final. Richards, who scored against Manchester City earlier this spring, will aim to remain in Oliver Glasner’s starting lineup for Saturday’s mouthwatering contest.
The U.S. men’s national team defender has been one of the consistent players for Palace during the second half of the season. Richards has made 29 appearances for the South London club across all competitions this season, sitting one appearance away from tying a career-high for a single campaign.
A victory for Crystal Palace would certainly be a historic one over the Citizens, serving as one of the more relevant tournament upsets and sealing the Eagles into next season’s UEFA Europa League competition. Odds will be against Richards and his teammates, but expect the Eagles to lay it all on the line to end their trophy drought.
Elsewhere in England, Antonee Robinson seeks his return as Fulham face Brentford in a London Derby.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic and AC Milan face off with AS Roma in a crucial Serie A match for both clubs.
In Spain, Johnny Cardoso visit Atletico Madrid in La Liga action.
In Germany, John Tolkin and Gio Reyna face off in the final weekend of Bundesliga play.
In France, Mark McKenzie and Toulouse visit Saint-Etienne in their season finale. Folarin Balogun may not be risked in Monaco’s final match of the season.
Elsewhere, Alex Zendejas and Club America take on Cruz Azul in the second leg of their two-legged playoff series. Auston Trusty and Celtic take on St. Mirren in SPFL play. George Bello and LASK face Grazer in Austrian Bundesliga action. Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo face Dender while Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split take on Rijeka.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Brentford on Sunday.
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth are off until May 20.
FA Cup Final
Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace face Manchester City on Saturday.
Women’s FA Cup Final
Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United face Naomi Girma, Catarina Macario, Mia Fishel and Chelsea on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Wolfsburg on Saturday.
John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel visit Gio Reyna, Cole Campbell and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Lennard Maloney and Mainz host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt visit Freiburg on Saturday.
Noahkai Banks and Augsburg host Union Berlin on Saturday.
Kevin Paredes is OUT (Injury) for Wolfsburg.
2. Bundesliga
Julian Green, Maximilian Dietz and Greuther Furth host Hamburg on Sunday.
Damion Downs and Cologne host Kaiserslautern on Sunday.
Johan Gomez and Eintracht Braunschweig host Nuremberg on Sunday.
John Brooks is OUT (Injury) for Hertha Berlin.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Waldhof Mannheim visit Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan visit AS Roma on Sunday.
Gianluca Busio and Venezia visit Cagliari on Sunday.
Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and Juventus host Udinese on Saturday.
France
Ligue 1
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon host Angers on Saturday.
Jordan Pefok and Stade Reims visit Lille on Saturday.
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse visit Saint-Etienne on Saturday.
Folarin Balogun is OUT (Injury) for AS Monaco.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Richie Ledezma, Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and PSV visit Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday.
Paxten Aaronson and FC Utrecht visit Fortuna Sittard on Sunday.
Taylor Booth and FC Twente visit Ajax on Sunday.
Ricardo Pepi is OUT (Injury) for PSV.
Women’s Eredivisie
Lily Yohannes and Ajax visit Excelsior on Saturday.
Belgium
Pro League
Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow and Westerlo visit OH Leuven on Friday.
Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege host Dender on Saturday.
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Celtic host St. Mirren on Saturday.
Jonathan Tomkinson and Ross County host Motherwell on Sunday.
Dante Polvara and Aberdeen visit Dundee United on Saturday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello and LASK visit Grazer on Saturday.
Switzerland
Super League
Konrad De La Fuente and Lausanne host Lugano on Sunday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split host Rijeka on Sunday.
Denmark
Superliga
Gavin Beavers and Brondby host Midtjylland on Monday.
Matthew Hoppe and Sonderjyske host Jonathan Amon and Lyngby on Sunday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Christian Cappis and Viking host Sandefjord on Friday.
Mexico
Liga MX Playoffs
Alex Zendejas and Club America host Cruz Azul on Sunday.
Congrats to Chris Richards and Matt Turner becoming 2nd and 3rd Americans to win the FA Cup. Chris was very good today and Matt won three of the early round matchups before Henderson took over in the quarterfinals.
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For those who will think this is proof of concept. Sit back and absorb 78% possession and score on the counter. Henderson made 6 saves including the pk, after an early blunder that could have had him see red. Eze’s shot had an xG of .09. Palace had only 7 shots and 2 on target. To win with that style your keeper has to be very very good and you have to be clinical every night.
In his 5 months with Mainz after forcing his way out at Heidenheim, Lenny Maloney made just 5 appearances for a total of 23 minutes. It’s too early to tell if the move was a good move long term or not but in the short term he didn’t do himself any favors.