This past Saturday, the FA Cup delivered another fairytale result when sixth-tier Macclesfield 🎉 stunned holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in one of the competition's most unlikely upsets. Managed by John Rooney – brother of England legend Wayne Rooney – Macclesfield overcame a 117-place gap in the English football pyramid to write their names into FA Cup history.
Meanwhile, Manchester City didn't hold back, demolishing third-tier Exeter 10-1, with their $87 million signing Antoine Semenyo marking his debut with a goal. Yet even City tying their biggest-ever win couldn't outshine Macclesfield's magic.
The tiny club from England's north west, relaunched after Macclesfield Town went into liquidation in 2020, is still coming to terms with the loss of 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod. A banner bearing his name hung behind the dugouts, and his parents watched from the stands.
Captain Paul Dawson broke the deadlock just before halftime, and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled the lead in the 60th minute after a scramble in the box. Crystal Palace's late free kick from Yeremy Pino left six nerve-wracking minutes of stoppage time, but home fans chanted "Silkmen! Silkmen!" all the way to the final whistle.
When the referee blew the whistle, fans sprinted onto Moss Rose – Macclesfield's modest 5,900-capacity ground – and players like Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft in celebration. "I can't believe it. We were incredible from the first minute," said John Rooney, who began and ended his playing career at the club and is in his first season as manager.
This giant-killing reminder shows that in football, on any given day, anything can happen. Macclesfield's fairytale is just beginning – and we can't wait to see who they'll shock next! ⚽️✨
Reference(s):
Macclesfield upsets FA Cup holder Crystal Palace in huge shock
cgtn.com
