MacClesfield shocks FA Cup holder Crystal Palace
The FA Cup delivered another fairytale result on Saturday when sixth-tier Macclesfield — managed by Wayne Rooney’s brother — knocked out titleholder Crystal Palace in one of the competition’s greatest upsets. The teams were separated by 117 places in the English soccer pyramid but Macclesfield won 2-1 which, given the difference in league positions, goes down as the most unlikely result in the FA Cup’s 155-year history.
At the other extreme, Manchester City overwhelmed third-tier Exeter 10-1 in a match featuring a goal on debut by $87 million signing Antoine Semenyo. City tying the record for its biggest ever win wasn’t the story of the day in the third round, though. That belonged to Macclesfield, a tiny club from England’s north west that was relaunched after its predecessor, Macclesfield Town, was liquidated in 2020 because of debts.
The team, placed 14th in National League North, is still coming to terms with the loss of its 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash travelling back from a match he played in at Bedford Town on Dec. 16. A banner bearing his name hung behind the dugouts at the Palace game and his family were in the stands to watch.
It made for an emotionally draining afternoon for John Rooney, the younger sibling of England and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney, who was at the match working for the BBC. “We finished the game and then I walk in the office and see Ethan’s mum and dad in there, that’s very special to me,” John Rooney said. “Just knowing they were here with us, and I’m sure Ethan was looking down on us today.” Macclesfield took the lead just before halftime through captain Paul Dawson, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th following a scramble in the penalty area.
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. Macclesfield survived, their players adding their names to the competition’s lore. Fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — Macclesfield’s modest 5,900-capacity stadium — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.
“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” said Rooney, who started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club and is in only his first season coaching. “I can’t believe it. We were incredible from the first minute.” The last time Palace played in the FA Cup, it beat City in the final for its first ever trophy. Palace’s dismal afternoon was summed up when US Defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time. “I have no words for this performance,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said. Palace captain Marc Guéhi spoke with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.
City slickers: Semenyo was handed a start by City manager Pep Guardiola a day after joining from Bournemouth and was among nine scorers for City. Right back Rico Lewis netted twice. In a classy gesture, Semenyo thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the local Bournemouth Echo newspaper before the game.
“He is a humble guy,” City assistant manager Pep Lijnders, who was directing affairs in the technical area as Guardiola served a one-match touchline ban, said of Semenyo. “He brings something to the front line that we really want and we need. “He can attack quick, he wants to chase, he is a guy who doesn’t stop.”
Semenyo’s former club lost at Newcastle 7-6 on penalties following a 3-3 draw in an all-Premier League contest at St. James’ Park. Anthony Gordon equalised 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 to take the game to penalties.
In the shootout, Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved from Bafodé Diakité in what proved to be the final kick. Rosenior’s first win: Chelsea marked new coach Liam Rosenior’s first match in charge by beating second-tier Charlton Athletic 5-1.
Defender Jorrel Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo scored either side of halftime for a heavily rotated Chelsea before Marc Guiu and substitutes Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez added more goals. Rosenior was hired on Tuesday on a six-year deal as the replacement for Enzo Maresca and joined from Strasbourg, which is part of the same ownership group as Chelsea.
More woe for Spurs: Tottenham completed a miserable week by losing to Aston Villa 2-1. On Wednesday, Spurs conceded in stoppage time to lose at Bournemouth in the Premier League and some of its disgruntled fans were involved in a row with players, including Micky van de Ven. Cristian Romero also let rip at the club on social media.
Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers scored for Villa in the first half and Wilson Odobert replied for Tottenham. In another all-Premier League matchup, Sunderland beat Everton on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time. Premier League sides Brentford, Fulham, Burnley and Wolverhampton all beat lower-level opposition.
