Macclesfield Town stuns Crystal Palace in FA Cup upset
Macclesfield Town achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 in one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history. The sixth-tier side’s victory on Saturday, at their home ground The Leasing.com Stadium, highlighted the unpredictability of the tournament, reports BritPanorama.
Goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts secured Macclesfield’s win, despite a brilliant second-half free-kick from Palace’s £26 million signing Yeremy Pino. Dawson, who is also the team captain, was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance, leading his side to an unforgettable victory.
Post-match, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed his disbelief at the defeat, stating, “I have no explanation for what I’ve seen today. We give congratulations to Macclesfield for winning. We had no quality today, and I didn’t see anyone capable of winning a dribble.” He acknowledged the inadequacy of his team’s performance and a failure to capitalize on opportunities.
Macclesfield, managed by John Rooney, brother of Wayne Rooney, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since ceasing trading in 2020. Under manager Robbie Savage, the club has navigated up through the leagues, earning promotion by playing an attractive brand of football. Rooney expressed his pride after the match, saying, “I can’t believe it. We never thought we would be in this position. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads.”
This victory serves as a testament to Macclesfield’s determination and resilience, illustrating how deeply rooted the FA Cup’s spirit of underdog triumph is in British football. Such moments, where reality defies expectations, encapsulate the essence of the tournament, reminding us that in football, anything is possible.
