The difference in English football's pyramid between Premier League team Palace and National League North team Macclesfield is 117 places. Considering that difference, Macclesfield's success can be considered the biggest sensational result in FA Cup history.
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Sixth-tier side Macclesfield pulled off a sensational FA Cup upset on Saturday, defeating defending champions Crystal Palace 2-1 in what is widely seen as the biggest upset of the competition.
The difference in English football's pyramid between Premier League side Palace and National League North side Macclesfield is 117 places. That difference makes Macclesfield's success the most sensational result in FA Cup history.
Captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored in either half as Macclesfield secured a 'famous victory'. This is the same team that was forced to restructure the club in 2020 after failing to repay its debts. 'I still can't believe it, I never imagined it would come to this day,' said Macclesfield manager John Rooney. He is the brother of former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney.
He added, “I didn’t believe it was possible, but we had some faith, that one day, anything could happen.” Just a month ago, Macclesfield forward Eoin McLeod died in a car crash at the age of 21. He was involved in the accident while leaving home for a match. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glassner made six changes to give new players a chance. Glassner, who has made changes including England internationals Mark Guihy and Eve Wharton, is himself being linked with a move to Manchester United. “I have no words for what I saw today. To be honest, in a game like this, you don’t need any strategy, even if you don’t have a manager,” Glassner said. “You have to show your ability and be able to perform differently. But we failed in everything.”
The Poles have not won any of their last nine games and the team has looked very weak in defending set pieces. Spain international Jeremi Pino's 90th-minute free-kick was enough to secure a point for Palace, but the team was forced to reverse the most incredible result in their history. Just a few months earlier, they had won the FA Cup by beating Manchester City. Then, earlier in the season, Palace beat Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Wolves, who are bottom of the Premier League table, are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Jørgen Strand Larsson's hat-trick helped them thrash Shrewsbury 6-1.
