Macclesfield 2 – 1 C Palais

Non-league Macclesfield pulled off one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history by knocking out holders Crystal Palace in a remarkable 2-1 third round victory.

The Silkmen, reformed in 2020 after the dissolution of Macclesfield Town, sit 117 places below Palace in the pyramid but have outplayed and outplayed a flat Eagles side to write new history for a club rising from the ashes of the old.

Captain Paul Dawson put Macclesfield ahead two minutes before half-time, and Palace failed to find a response before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled the lead on the hour.

Yeremy Pino's 90th-minute free-kick set up a nervy finish after six extra minutes, but eight months after lifting the FA Cup to win their first major trophy, Palace returned it with a tame performance as Macclesfield fans flocked to the pitch to celebrate a famous victory.

It was the first time the title holders had lost to non-league opposition since Palace themselves had beaten Wolves in 1909 while in the Southern League.

It was a day of celebration for Macclesfield, a club still dealing with the death of 21-year-old striker Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash while returning from a match at Bedford Town on December 16.

John Rooney's side paid tribute to McLeod with a spirited performance against a Palace side making six changes but still including England internationals Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.

Palace didn't have a chance to score until the 13th minute, but Pino went well wide. Christantus Uche went much closer with a wicked diving shot in the 28th minute, but Max Dearnley barely had a save to make and Macclesfield's confidence grew.

Josh Kay had just sent a shot wide when he was brought down by Kaden Rodney, and from the resulting free-kick Dawson became the latest man to expose Palace's vulnerability from set pieces.

The skipper wore a bandage from the start after a clash of heads. Sam Heathcote helped him rearrange the dressing while waiting for Luke Duffy to send in the free-kick, and seconds later he planted his header into the far corner.

Oliver Glasner responded with three changes at half-time as Tyrick Mitchell, Will Hughes and Brennan Johnson came on, but Palace still looked lethargic going forward and increasingly nervous in defence.

After landing a threatening shot from Buckley-Ricketts, Guehi sold Walter Benitez's shot with a back header and D'Mani Mellor almost took advantage. James Edmondson then fired a free kick wide.

Palace were unable to settle and found themselves 2-0 down after an hour. It was a total disaster. Mellor was claiming a penalty when he fell under the challenge of Chris Richards. Two attempts to authorize the palace were blocked.

Lewis Fensome tried to bend a shot, but when it was deflected, Buckley-Ricketts stuck out his leg and the ball flew past Benitez, wrong-footed.

Palace woke up late. Uche fired a shot narrowly wide, then had a header denied for offside in the build-up.

Wharton's shot was then deflected wide, but Macclesfield resisted the pressure well until Mellor fouled Guehi on the edge of the area late on and Pino beat Dearnley from the free-kick. Too little, too late.

Morrison: Palace was embarrassing

Former Palace striker Clinton Morrison on Soccer Saturday:

“Palace were nowhere near good enough. Macclesfield were the better team, they were exceptional.

“Palace was embarrassing. They thought they could just turn up at Macclesfield. It's nothing to do with the pitch, it's about whether you can go and compete, Macclesfield wanted it more than Palace.”