Defending champ Crystal Palace loses to 6th-tier Macclesfield in massive FA Cup upset
MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — Tiny Macclesfield knocked out FA Cup holder Crystal Palace 2-1 in one of the competition’s biggest ever upsets to reach the fourth round on Saturday.
From the sixth tier of English soccer, more than 100 places below the Premier League’s Palace, Macclesfield took the lead when captain Paul Dawson headed in a cross from Luke Duffy just before halftime.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th following a scramble in the penalty area. The ball pinged to Buckley-Ricketts, who came through the Manchester City academy, and he deftly clipped the ball with the outside of his right foot past goalkeeper Walter Benítez.
“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” Macclesfield coach John Rooney told broadcaster the BBC.
“I can’t believe it. We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads.”
Seven-time FA Cup winner Manchester City, the runner-up last season, crushed third-tier Exeter 10-1 at home.
But the day belonged to Rooney’s spirited Macclesfield.
Rooney started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club — and is in only his first season coaching. He is the younger brother of England and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney.
Yeremy Pino’s last-minute free kick for Palace left Macclesfield facing a nervous six minutes of stoppage time as home fans chanted “Silkmen! Silkmen!” — the club’s nickname.
Palace’s dismal afternoon was summed up when U.S. central defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time. He played for the first time since Dec. 23 when he cut his right foot and was taken off on a stretcher in the League Cup quarterfinal against Arsenal.
The fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — a modest 5,900-capacity stadium in northwest England — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.
Big upsets
The FA Cup has a long history of dramatic knockouts and huge upsets, such as when non-league Hereford beat Newcastle 2-1 in a third round replay in 1972 and underdog Palace beat overwhelming favorite Liverpool 4-3 in the 1990 semifinals.
On Friday night, second-tier Wrexham eliminated Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner said his side deserved to lose.
“If you just show what you’re capable of and having a little bit of pride, then you perform in a different way,” he told the BBC. “But today we missed everything.”
Palace captain Marc Guéhi spoke with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.
City slickers
New signing Antoine Semenyo was among nine scorers for City, with right back Rico Lewis netting twice.
Semenyo’s former club Bournemouth lost at Newcastle 7-6 on penalties following a 3-3 draw in an all-Premier League contest at St. James’ Park.
Anthony Gordon equalized for Newcastle with a penalty deep into stoppage time. Harvey Barnes grabbed his second goal for Newcastle two minutes before the end of extra time, only for Marcus Tavernier to level for Bournemouth with seconds remaining.
In the shootout, Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved Bafodé Diakité’s penalty.
Later Saturday, Tottenham faced Premier League rival Aston Villa and eight-time champion Chelsea visited second-tier Charlton.
In another all-Premier League tie, Sunderland beat Everton on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.
Premier League sides Brentford, Fulham, Burnley and Wolves all beat lower-level opposition.
The 2021 FA Cup winner Leicester won at Cheltenham 2-0.
Semenyo says goodbye
Bournemouth sold Semenyo to City on Friday in a deal worth a reported 65 million pounds ($87 million).
He thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the Bournemouth Echo newspaper.
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