The current cup winner Crystal Palace is in the English Cup with the sixth division team Macclesfield eliminated. It is one of the biggest sensations in the history of the FA Cups.
The defending champion from the Premier League embarrassed himself in the third round against the blatant outsider from the sixth class National League North and was eliminated from the cup with a 1:2 defeat. According to information from BBC It is the “biggest sensation” in the history of the traditional cup competition: both clubs are separated by 117 places in the table; never before has there been a greater difference between two opponents in a cup duel in which the lower-class club ultimately prevailed.
Paul Dawson (43rd minute) and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts (61st) scored the goals for the “Silkmen“, who even played in the seventh division last season. For Crystal Palace, who surprisingly reached the final at Wembley in May against Manchester City After winning 1-0, Yéremy Pino shortened the score (90th). But it was no longer enough to avert bankruptcy.
Palace in crisis under Glasner
Coach Oliver Glasner’s team continued the alarming decline. The team from south London has now not won in nine games across all competitions. Glasner had also obviously made a mistake with his line-up, the former Frankfurt coach had left some regulars out for the supposedly easy cup task and, among others, had appointed Joel Drakes-Thomas, who was only 16 years old – the youngster also missed a great chance to take the lead for Palace in the first half.
The Premier League club had a clear advantage, but allowed themselves to be duped twice by the underdogs: Dawson headed in from a long cross to take the lead, Buckley-Ricketts was quickest after the break and used a deflected ball to take the lead 2-0. It wasn’t until stoppage time that Pino scored with a direct free kick for the favorites – the goal was worth seeing, but it came too late.
After the historic coup, the cup heroes from the sixth division celebrated together with the fans who filled the stadium after the final whistle Moss Rose stormed.
Emotional triumph for Macclesfield – remembering the injured striker
The cup sensation is particularly emotional for the club from the northwest of England: Macclesfield was only re-founded in October 2020 after bankruptcy and had started a new beginning in the ninth English league. Under the leadership of long-time Premier League player Robbie Savage, Macclesfield had achieved three promotions in four years.
The team is now coached by John Rooney, Wayne Rooney’s younger brother. Shortly before Christmas, the club was shocked by the death of its striker Ethan McLeod, the 21-year-old striker was in a car accident on the way back from an away game.
McLeod’s parents were also in the stadium and witnessed the victory with the team: “I told you earlier: I’m sure he’s watching us today”said Coach Rooney to the BBC. “It meant a lot to me that his parents were here today, with us in the dressing room.”