Non-League side Macclesfield pulled off the biggest upset in FA Cup history, defeating holders Crystal Palace in the third round with a stunning 2-1 victory.
The Silkmen, who reunited in 2020 after the dissolution of Macclesfield Town, sit 117th below Palace in the pyramid and are statistically the biggest cup shock in the competition’s history, but they beat a flat Eagles side, fought thoughtfully and wrote new history for a club that rose from the ashes of old.
All-action captain Paul Dawson put Macclesfield ahead with a header two minutes before half-time, but Palace were unable to muster a response and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts extended their lead to two points in the hour.
Yeremy Pinot’s 90th-minute free-kick sealed a nervy finish after six minutes of added time, but Palace returned the title with a demure performance as Macclesfield fans packed onto the pitch to celebrate their famous victory, eight months after lifting the FA Cup and winning their first major trophy.
Goalscorer Paul Dawson celebrates Macclesfield’s shock 2-1 win over Crystal Palace with supporters
It was the first time the Holders had lost to a non-league opponent since Palace, who were in the Southern League, defeated Wolves in 1909.
It was a day of celebration for Macclesfield, a club still coming to terms with the death of 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who died in a car accident on the way back from a match at Bedford Town on December 16.
John Rooney’s side paid tribute to McLeod with a spirited performance against a Palace side that made six substitutions, including England internationals Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.
Palace were unable to find a goal until the 13th minute, when Pino fired wide. Crisstantas Uche went even closer in the 28th minute with a wicked dipping shot, but Max Darnley could barely save and Macclesfield’s confidence increased.
Dawson became the latest man to expose Palace’s vulnerability from a set-piece with a free-kick moments after Josh Kaye was brought down by Kayden Rodney and sent his shot wide.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts delighted after doubling Macclesfield’s lead against cup holders Crystal Palace
The captain was bandaged early on after a head collision. While waiting for Luke Duffy to take the free-kick, Sam Heathcote helped him change and seconds later he headed a shot into the top corner.
Manager Oliver Glasner responded with three changes at half-time as Tyrick Mitchell, Will Hughes and Brennan Johnson came on, but Palace still looked lethargic up front and were becoming increasingly nervous in defence.
After hacking away a threatening effort from Buckley-Ricketts, Gehi sold Walter Benitez’s backheader and Dimani Mellor almost profited. James Edmondson then took a free kick.
Palace were unable to settle the match and were 2-0 down after an hour. It was complete chaos. Mellor fell under a challenge from Chris Richards and was screaming for a penalty. Two Palace clearance attempts were thwarted.
Lewis Fensom bent to take a shot, but when it was deflected, Buckley-Ricketts stretched out his legs and the ball drifted past Benitez, who was on the wrong foot.
Palace got back on their feet, albeit belatedly. Uche fired just wide of the target, but his header in the build-up was disallowed for offside.
Wharton’s shot went wide, but Macclesfield withstood the pressure well until Meller fouled Guehi on the edge of the box in the closing stages and Pino beat Darnley with a free-kick. Too little, too late.
Macclesfield’s John Kay sits in a supporter’s chair as he leaves the pitch after his team beat FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 2-1
Rooney: “I thought we were amazing”
Macclesfield manager John Rooney told the BBC:
“Unbelievable. Unbelievable. I was speechless at that moment. From the first moment we thought it was amazing. We didn’t know what was going to happen, but we deserved to win. We destroyed their chances with one chance in the first half. We were unbelievable as people. You could see they were jubilant.”
“Dawson is one of them too. He’s unbelievable in the air. He can score goals from the field, he can play as a centre-half and he puts his head in the goal. He’s got that passion and sometimes we have to rein him in a little bit, but he was great today. He’s a class clown.”
“I didn’t think there was any chance of that happening, but there’s a little bit of hope that something might happen that day.”
Rooney also paid an emotional tribute to former Macclesfield forward Ethan McLeod, who died aged 21 in a car crash while driving back from a club match in Bedford last month.
John Rooney added: “I didn’t really mention it in January. I didn’t want to put any extra pressure on the players.”
“I got a great message from his father last night and I was supposed to send it to the players or tell them before the game, but I didn’t want to put any extra pressure on them with what we’ve been through.
“So we decided to leave it alone until the game was over. So it was tough. We also had to go see them (his parents). It was a really tough time.”
“We all pulled together and got through it. It never gets easier. The photo in the locker room is still never seen. It was really tough.”
Furious Glasner slams Palace’s performance
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner told the BBC:
“Congratulations to Macclesfield. We lacked any quality today. We conceded a set piece from the header so we had to do better. The second goal was a slapstick.”
“And on the other hand, if we can’t create clear chances, it’s a lack of quality that we showed today. We lost and we deserved to lose.
“We wanted quality from everyone. We brought in more attacking players (at half-time), but I can’t explain what we saw today.”
“You don’t need tactics in this kind of match, just show your ability and show a little bit of pride and you’ll perform differently.
“But today everything was missing.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison: ‘The palace was embarrassing’
Former Palace striker Clinton Morrison speaks on Saturday Football:
“Palace weren’t good enough, Macclesfield were the better team and were outstanding.
“Palace were embarrassed. They thought they could just come to Macclesfield. It has nothing to do with the pitch, it’s about being able to play. Macclesfield wanted it more than Palace.”
