Holders Palace stunned by Macclesfield in biggest ever FA Cup shock, City rout Exeter

Crystal Palace’s defence of the FA Cup came to an embarrassing end as they were beaten 2-1 by sixth-tier Macclesfield on Saturday in the biggest shock in the competition’s history.

Antoine Semenyo started his Manchester City career by scoring in a 10-1 rout of Exeter.

Just a day after securing his £65 million ($87 million) move from Bournemouth, Semenyo was among the scorers as City put League One Exeter to the sword at the Etihad.

Erling Haaland started but was remarkably not among the goals before being withdrawn at half-time.

Rico Lewis scored twice, while Max Alleyne, Rodri, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Riley and Ryan McAidoo were also on target for City and Exeter netted two own goals.

The 117 places that separate Premier League outfit Palace from Macclesfield of the National League North in the English football pyramid is the most ever overcome by an underdog in FA Cup history.

Captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored either side of half-time to secure a famous victory for a club that were forced to reform in 2020 after being wound up for unpaid debts.

“I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position,” said Macclesfield manager John Rooney, the younger brother of former England captain Wayne Rooney.

“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day.”

Macclesfield are also still coming to terms with the death of forward Euan McLeod, who died aged 21 less than a month ago, after a car accident when he was travelling home after a match.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who has been linked with the vacant managerial post at Manchester United, made six changes but his starting line-up still included England internationals Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.

“I have no explanation for what I have seen today,” said Glasner.

“In these kind of games honestly you don’t need tactics, you don’t need a manager.

“I think if you just show what you’re capable of and having a little bit of pride then you perform in a different way, but today we missed everything.”

Palace are now winless in nine games in all competitions and set-piece defending has been at the heart of that slump.

Macclesfield took full advantage when Dawson powered in a header from a free-kick just before half-time.

Glasner described the goalmouth scramble that led to Macclesfield’s second as “slapstick”.

Buckley-Ricketts prodded past Walter Benitez from close range on the hour after Palace fluffed multiple opportunities to clear the danger.

Spanish international Yeremy Pino’s pinpoint free-kick in the 90th minute showed the quality the Premier League side possess.

But they could not save themselves from going down in history for the wrong reasons just months on from beating Manchester City at Wembley to win a major trophy for the first time.

The victory was the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for Macclesfield, who were expelled from the National League five years ago, with debts totalling more than £500,000.

The club was purchased a month later by local businessman Robert Smethurst. Macclesfield entered the ninth tier in 2021-22, winning three promotions in four seasons since then.

Premier League strugglers Wolves are now unbeaten in four games after thrashing Shrewsbury 6-1 to progress to the fourth round thanks to a Jorgen Strand Larsen hat-trick.

Sunderland ousted Everton in a shootout after regulation and extra time ended scoreless. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs was Sunderland’s hero, saving all three penalties that he faced.

Earlier, second-tier Wrexham beat Nottingham Forest on penalties after a 3-3 draw to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday, eliminating a Premier League side for the first time in 26 years in another chapter of their Hollywood story.

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was the hero for the hosts, saving Forest’s fifth penalty by Omari Hutchinson to ensure the win.

Wrexham’s Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone scored in quick succession in the first half. The second-tier team looked headed for victory with a 3-1 lead in a breathless second half before Callum Hudson-Odoi struck in the 76th and 89th minutes.

Forest boss Sean Dyche had selected a virtual reserve team with eight changes from Tuesday’s Premier League win over West Ham United.

But he sent on reinforcements in Neco Williams, Nicolas Dominguez, and Morgan Gibbs-White for the second half, and it paid off as Igor Jesus pulled one back in the 64th minute, nodding in a cross off the post.

Dominic Hyam restored Wrexham’s two-goal advantage when he dove to head home a free kick in the 74th minute before Hudson-Odoi’s heroics.

But Wrexham prevailed in the shootout after extra time ended without a goal and the victory was another highlight for a team that has climbed from non-league football to the second tier in three seasons under the ownership of Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Agencies