Goals
Paul Dawson – 43’ – Macclesfield
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts – 61’ – Macclesfield
Yeremy Pino – 90’ – Crystal Palace
Macclesfield topple the holders in a timeless FA Cup giant-killing
Macclesfield wrote a remarkable new chapter into FA Cup folklore with a 2–1 triumph over Crystal Palace, dispatching the current holders despite sitting 117 places below them in the league system. On a cold afternoon at Moss Rose, the sixth-tier side combined resilience, emotion and ruthless finishing to achieve a result many will rank as the greatest upset the competition has seen.
It was a meeting loaded with narrative. Palace arrived as defending champions, packed with international experience and recent Wembley pedigree. Macclesfield, reborn in 2020 after financial collapse, brought a community-driven squad and a full house that sensed possibility from the opening whistle rather than merely romance. The atmosphere was heightened further by tributes to Ethan McLeod, whose recent passing gave the occasion deep poignancy.
From the outset the non-league side refused to be overawed. Their captain, Paul Dawson, already bandaged from an early collision, imposed himself in midfield and set the tone with combative challenges and calm possession. Palace created moments through pace on the flanks, but their passing lacked conviction and the visitors appeared unsettled by direct balls launched into the winter sun.
The breakthrough arrived shortly before half-time. Meeting Luke Duffy’s set piece at the back post, Dawson (43’) powered a header into the far corner to send Moss Rose into delirium. The roar reflected more than a goal; it symbolised years of rebuilding and the belief that the holders were truly vulnerable.
Palace introduced fresh legs and higher-profile names at the interval, yet the pattern scarcely changed. Macclesfield’s work rate intensified, second balls were snapped up, and pressure continued to build on a hesitant visiting defence. On the hour mark the underdogs struck again. After a scramble created by a failed clearance, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts (61’) reacted quickest, nudging the ball over the line to double the lead and spark wild celebrations.
Statistics only underlined the scale of the feat. Palace featured full internationals and recent Wembley winners; Macclesfield’s squad included players with day jobs beyond football and a manager, John Rooney, still early in his touchline career. Yet territory, duels won and chances created all leaned towards the non-league side for long periods.
Palace rallied late and finally found a response when Yeremy Pino (90’) curled in a free-kick to reduce the deficit, ensuring a tense finale during six minutes of added time. The holders pressed but clarity deserted them, and the final whistle triggered a joyous pitch invasion as thousands of home supporters celebrated history unfolding in front of them.
Rooney praised the collective effort, calling his team “incredible from the first minute”, while Palace’s frustration was evident, their manager openly admitting his side “deserved to lose”. The contrast said everything. Macclesfield were organised, fearless and clinical; Palace were disjointed and unable to match the intensity demanded by the occasion.
In pure competitive terms, this was seismic. A sixth-tier club beating the reigning champions; the first holders to fall to non-league opposition in more than a century; a 117-place chasm bridged by desire, discipline and belief. In emotional terms, it was even more powerful, uniting a town rebuilt from adversity and reminding the football world why the FA Cup still matters.
For Macclesfield, this was not merely a win. It was validation, catharsis and immortality rolled into ninety frantic minutes. For Crystal Palace, it will stand as a warning that history weighs heavily on favourites who forget what this competition can do.
