Palace profit from soft penalty and Cabaye sends them to Wembley

Wales full back Chris Gunter saw a free-kick wasted with international and former Cardiff City teammate Joe Ledley clearing this and other deliveries.

Pardew was again without in-form Eagles striker Connor Wickham, so Emmanuel Adebayor deputised yet spurned half-chances.

Palace overloaded the left from a tactical point of view, with Wilfried Zaha joining Bolasie down that flank, and such double speed sought to stretch Reading.

Dear John a Royal pain

With Ola John – younger brother of former Fulham forward Collins – frustrating as the Royals tried to play the Eagles at their own game, the hosts’ best first-half opportunity came through Paul McShane. The returning Wayne Hennessey thwarted him, however.

Cabaye’s dead-ball strike then needed helping on its way up the other end by Al-Habsi, an FA Cup winner with Wigan Athletic from 2013.

Adebayor came closest to a goal before half-time when forcing the Oman goalie into a sprawling save when slipped in down the right channel.

John twice saw efforts end up in the side-netting, first via a deflection and then almost punished a Hennessey error.

Cabaye tried his luck from range on the stretch, as Palace took a more route one approach, but his volley proved hard to control.

Prince of the posts Ali keeps Reading in it

Al-Habsi then parried a Bolasie strike and Joe Ledley snatched at the rebound by blazing over. The Reading keeper was also at his best early in the second-half to deny Mile Jedinak from nodding in Cabaye’s set-piece.

Oliver Norwood had to clear off the line from the resultant corner before Dean booked Zaha and Gunter following a spat.

Slick counter-attacking from Bolasie, harshly cautioned moments earlier for what looked a fine tackle on Jordan Obita, and Zaha set up Adebayor to waste another decent Eagles opening.

Another plunging palm save from Al-Habsi thwarted a successive Cabaye free-kick with Palace becoming increasingly frustrated. Hennessey, meanwhile, atoned for earlier shakiness by keeping out John’s back-post header.

Penalty pain for McDermott

With six minutes left, Bolasie went down under minimal contact from Cooper’s challenge in the box and official Dean pointed to the spot.

Cabaye’s kick from 12 yards had too much on it for Al-Habsi to keep out, and he was helpless when another slaloming Bolasie run in off the flank saw a shot crack against the bar.

Although Al-Habsi saved at the death from Campbell, he followed in to fire home the rebound from point-blank range and ensure Palace will be at Wembley.

Manager Pardew got one over his old friend Brian McDermott here, and his own inspirational semis showing in Eagles colours some 26 years ago could yet inspire the south London side to a cup final. Coral have cut Palace from 15/2 to 6/1 to lift this trophy.

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