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Macclesfield Stun FA Cup Holders Crystal Palace in Record Third‑Round Upset

Reborn after a 2020 collapse, the sixth‑tier club became the first non‑league team since 1909 to eliminate the defending champions.

Overview

  • Paul Dawson’s header and Isaac Buckley‑Ricketts’ finish put Macclesfield 2-0 up before Yeremy Pino’s late free kick made it 2-1 in stoppage time.
  • The win bridged a 117‑place gap in the pyramid, the largest league‑position differential ever overcome in the FA Cup.
  • Supporters flooded the pitch at Moss Rose, the 5,900‑capacity ground where players were carried aloft after the final whistle.
  • Manager John Rooney hailed a deserved victory as the club and fans dedicated the day to 21‑year‑old forward Ethan McLeod, who died in a car accident last month.
  • Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said his side “deserved to lose,” while Macclesfield await the fourth‑round draw scheduled for January 12.