In one of the most astonishing giant-killings in the history of the FA Cup, non-league Macclesfield sent the competition's holders, Crystal Palace, crashing out in the third round on Saturday. The historic 2-1 victory at Moss Rose sent shockwaves through English football, leaving the Premier League side humbled and their captain, Marc Guehi, in heated discussions with furious travelling supporters at full-time.
A Fairytale Script at Moss Rose
Despite their status as reigning champions following last summer's triumph over Manchester City, Crystal Palace were utterly outplayed by a Macclesfield side sitting 14th in the National League North. Goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts secured a lead that the part-time outfit would not relinquish, even after Yeremy Pino's 90th-minute consolation for the Eagles.
The financial gulf between the sides was colossal, underlined by Palace's £35million record signing Brennan Johnson appearing as a half-time substitute. Yet, it was the spirit and organisation of John Rooney's team that prevailed, leading to a pitch invasion by jubilant home fans at the final whistle.
Captain Confronts the Fury
As the reality of the defeat sank in, Palace skipper Marc Guehi approached the away end in an attempt to placate supporters. Footage shared on social media showed the 25-year-old England international receiving a stern verbal volley from disgruntled fans, perplexed by their team's lacklustre performance.
The moment carried added significance given Guehi's contract situation. The centre-back, who started alongside fellow international Adam Wharton, is in the final six months of his Palace deal and is widely expected to leave on a free transfer this summer, with Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City all reportedly interested.
Rooney Family Emotion and Managerial Reactions
The victory was masterminded by Macclesfield manager John Rooney, whose brother, Manchester United and England legend Wayne, was working as a BBC pundit for the match. An emotional Wayne Rooney was visibly moved and close to tears as he praised his younger brother's incredible achievement.
"It's incredible, I am getting emotional to see my younger brother achieve this," Wayne said. "He's not been long in management and to get through to the fourth round of the FA Cup and beat Crystal Palace, I am so proud of him."
John Rooney was understandably elated, stating: "I can't believe it, we never thought we would be in this position. We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners."
In stark contrast, a blunt Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner offered no excuses. "We give congratulations to Macclesfield for winning. We had no kind of quality today," he admitted. "If you can't create clear chances, it is a lack of quality that we have shown today. We deserved to lose."
The result stands as one of the competition's most seismic shocks, a reminder of the enduring magic and unpredictability of the world's oldest football cup competition.
