Non-league Macclesfield produced the greatest shock in FA Cup history with a stunning and memorable performance to knock out holders Crystal Palace.
The hosts are ranked 117 places below Premier League side Palace, meaning this was the biggest upset in the competition of all time in terms of league places, but on the pitch, that gap was non-existent as this was a deserved win for Macclesfield.
Paul Dawson’s brilliant header in the first half had the home fans in dreamland, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts shocked Palace further when he prodded in a second after the break.
Yeremy Pino set up a nervous finish for the hosts when he fired home a free-kick in stoppage time, but Macclesfield held on to secure the famous win.
Palace, who had caused their own shock by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup last May, had dominated possession from the outset but struggled to create many meaningful chances as their poor form continued.
They are now without a win in nine games, but this is by far their most disappointing result in that run.
They had fielded a mixture of young players and experienced first-teamers for this game, and the youngest player on the pitch perhaps should have given them the lead in the first half.
Joel Drakes-Thomas, 16, was picked out by a brilliant cross from Kaden Rodney but just failed to connect with his head after peeling away from the defence.
Christantus Uche sent a thumping strike just over the bar, but then came the moment that Macclesfield fans will cherish forever.
Luke Duffy sent a great ball into the box, and Macclesfield captain Dawson rose highest to send a great header into the far corner.
Oliver Glasner sent on experienced Premier League players Tyrick Mitchell, Johnson, and Will Hughes for the start of the second half, but Palace appeared rattled and continued to struggle against their National League North opponents.
Instead, Macclesfield continued to play with a determination and belief that they could upset Palace, and so it proved as Buckley-Ricketts reacted superbly to a deflected shot that fell into his path to flick home a second.
Pino’s fine free-kick, curled expertly over the wall and just under the bar, gave Palace some hope of rescuing the situation, but the home side stood strong to win.
Macclesfield deliver after overcoming difficult times
The final whistle prompted scenes of jubilation as fans raced onto the pitch to celebrate, with captain Dawson lofted into the air.
There have only been nine non-league wins against top-flight opponents in the past 100 years of the FA Cup.
This one was particularly significant given what Macclesfield supporters have gone through in recent times.
One hundred and forty-six years of history were consigned to the history books when Macclesfield Town ceased trading in 2020.
Local businessman Robert Smethurst bought the club’s assets and, with former player Robbie Savage joining the board, they were reformed as a phoenix club.
After joining the ninth-tier North West Counties Premier Division, three promotions in four seasons have lifted them to the sixth tier, where they are just a handful of points outside the play-off places despite being in the bottom half of the table.
With Savage having left to join Forest Green Rovers, they are now managed by John Rooney, younger brother of former England captain Wayne, and he has fashioned a side that plays with confidence and purpose, no matter who they face.
That was evident in this game, with the performance from the players all the more impressive because of the tragedy they had to deal with recently.
On 16 December, Silkmen forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident while travelling back from Macclesfield’s National League North match at Bedford Town.
His team-mates clearly wanted to pay tribute, and did so by delivering this historic result that will be talked about for years to come.
Palace’s poor form continues
After celebrating their memorable FA Cup trophy win at the end of last season, Palace fans would never have envisaged their defence would end at the first stage, particularly at the hands of a team five divisions below them.
Glasner certainly took a risk with his youthful starting XI, but they still possessed enough Premier League experience in the team and on the bench to have overcome this hurdle.
But aside from having plenty of possession, they looked a side completely out of sorts, with the fact that Macclesfield finished the game with more shots than them highlighting that this was a deserved result.
The opener came from a set-piece – a Palace weakness this season, as 13 of the 23 goals scored against them in the Premier League have come from such situations.
Palace appeared to lack leadership on the pitch to deal with the situation, and though they came alive after Pino’s strike, it ultimately came far too late.
It is an embarrassing result for Palace, but Glasner’s wider focus will be on trying to turn around their alarming drop in form, with the Eagles having not won in any competition since 11 December.
