Macclesfield Shocks Palace in FA Cup Upset

In pursuit of a safe passage to the fourth round of a competition they had claimed for the first time the previous season, Crystal Palace entered Moss Rose Stadium as heavy favorites.

However, the Premier League side, ranked 117 places above their National League North counterparts, found themselves unexpectedly trailing 1-0 when Macclesfield’s captain, Paul Dawson, scored shortly after receiving treatment for a head injury sustained in a clash with Palace defender Jaydee Canvot.

In an effort to reverse the game’s fortunes, Palace made three substitutions at halftime, introducing January signing Brennan Johnson alongside Will Hughes and Tyrick Mitchell. Nevertheless, the hosts extended their lead to two goals when Macclesfield forward Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, a former Manchester City academy player, demonstrated quick reflexes to find the net just after the hour mark.

Palace threatened a late comeback when Yeremy Pino scored a spectacular free-kick in the 90th minute, but time ran out for the holders as Macclesfield achieved a remarkable upset.

This victory marked the first occasion since 1908-09 that a non-league team has defeated the reigning FA Cup champions, a record previously set by Palace themselves against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The atmosphere at Moss Rose Stadium was electric as home supporters rushed onto the pitch to celebrate with the Macclesfield team. In the aftermath, Palace defender Marc Guehi approached the away fans, calmly listening to their frustrations while television cameras captured the jubilation of the Macclesfield players.

Guehi, who is reportedly attracting interest from top clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, played the full 90 minutes against Macclesfield.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner maintained a composed demeanor when discussing his team’s unexpected defeat, stating, “Congratulations to Macclesfield for winning. We lacked quality today. I did not see anyone capable of winning a dribble. Conceding from a set play and losing headers is unacceptable. We have to do better. The second goal was more farcical. If we cannot create clear chances, which we struggled to do today, we deserve to lose. I cannot explain what I witnessed on the pitch.”

For Macclesfield, the victory was particularly emotional, coming shortly after the tragic death of former player Ethan McLeod, who passed away in a car accident last month at the age of 21. Macclesfield, which was reformed in 2020 after the original club was dissolved, dedicated this win to McLeod, with Dawson stating, “That was for him. We put in a tremendous team performance. We have all rallied together during this tough time. I know Ethan would be proud of us today.”

Macclesfield will learn their next opponent in the FA Cup’s fourth round during a draw scheduled for Monday, January 12, at 6:35 PM. Meanwhile, Guehi, Glasner, and the Palace squad aim to break a nine-game winless streak as they prepare to face Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, January 17.