In a day of FA Cup shocks and surprises, Macclesfield FC, a non-league team, pulled off a historic upset by defeating Crystal Palace, the reigning FA Cup champions, 2-1. Meanwhile, Manchester City showcased their attacking prowess with a dominant 10-1 victory over Exeter City. Elsewhere, Liam Rosenior began his tenure as Chelsea's head coach with a convincing 5-1 win against Charlton Athletic.
Macclesfield Town, who reformed in October 2020, stunned Crystal Palace at Moss Rose in what has been described as one of the greatest FA Cup upsets in history. The National League North side proved their worth, taking the lead in the first half with a powerful header from captain Paul Dawson. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, a former Manchester City youngster, extended Macclesfield's lead in the second half. Crystal Palace, despite a late goal from Yeremy Pino, were unable to mount a comeback, resulting in a momentous victory for Macclesfield. This marks the first time a non-league team has defeated the FA Cup holders in 108 years. The scenes at Moss Rose were euphoric as fans celebrated the historic win with the team. Macclesfield's manager, John Rooney, the brother of Wayne Rooney, dedicated the win to Ethan McLeod, a 21-year-old player who recently passed away.
In contrast to the tight affair at Moss Rose, Manchester City displayed their firepower in a 10-1 thrashing of Exeter City. Antoine Semenyo, newly signed from Bournemouth for £65 million, marked his debut with a goal. Max Alleyne opened the scoring, followed by a spectacular strike from Rodri, his first goal since May 2024. Exeter conceded two own goals, further cementing City's dominance. In the second half, Semenyo scored, along with goals from Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O'Reilly, and Ryan McAidoo. Rico Lewis scored twice, capping off City's biggest win since 1987. George Birch scored a late consolation goal for Exeter. Pep Guardiola, serving a one-match ban, watched his team record their first win in four games across all competitions.
Liam Rosenior's debut as Chelsea's head coach was a success, as his team defeated Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup. Jorrel Hato scored the opening goal, with Tosin Adarabioyo adding a second. Miles Leaburn pulled one back for Charlton, but Chelsea responded with goals from Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernandez. Rosenior made eight changes to the lineup, giving opportunities to several players. Rosenior became the first Chelsea manager to win his first game in charge since Antonio Conte in 2016. Despite the victory, a section of Chelsea fans voiced their displeasure with the club's ownership.
