LONDON: Holders Crystal Palace succumbed to the biggest shock in FA Cup history with a 2-1 defeat at Sixth Division Macclesfield on Saturday as Antoine Semenyo began his Manchester City career by scoring in a 10-1 defeat to Exeter City.
In their last FA Cup outing at Wembley in May, Palace made history by beating City to win the club’s first ever major trophy.
They entered the record books for the wrong reasons this time at Moss Rose as captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored either side of half-time for the side managed by John Rooney, the younger brother of former England captain Wayne Rooney.
The 117 places that separate Palace from Premier League side Macclesfield of the National League North in the English football pyramid are the most ever won by an outsider in the history of the FA Cup.
“I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position,” Rooney said. “I didn’t think it was possible but there is this little hope that something could happen that day.”
Palace boss Oliver Glasner was furious at what he described as a lack of “pride” and “slapstick” in defense for the Eagles, who are now winless in nine games.
“I have no explanation for what I saw today,” said the Austrian, who has been linked with the vacant Manchester United coaching job.
Just a day after securing his $US65 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 remarkably did not feature among the goals before being taken off 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 scored two own goals.
Sunderland won another of all Premier League games on penalties against Everton after a 1-1 draw. Robin Roefs saved all three of the Toffees’ penalties in the shootout to send the Black Cats through to the fourth round.
Premier League struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers are now four games unbeaten after beating Shrewsbury Town 6-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Fulham needed three goals in the final half hour to beat Middlesbrough 3-1 at Craven Cottage, but Burnley found Championship opposition an easier proposition by beating Millwall 5-1.
Brentford secured a 2-0 victory at financially struggling Sheffield Wednesday, while Championship side Leicester City beat League Two side Cheltenham Town 2-0.
Second division Wrexham eliminated Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw on Friday to reach the fourth round, eliminating a Premier League team for the first time in 26 years in another chapter of their Hollywood history.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was the hero for the hosts, saving Forest’s fifth penalty by Omari Hutchinson to secure the victory, which was another highlight for the Welsh club who have moved from non-league football to the second tier in three seasons under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
In Friday’s other matches, Championship side Oxford United beat League Two’s MK Dons on penalties after their match ended 1-1, while a few League One sides moved on, with shock 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic beating Championship side Preston North End 1-0, and Port Vale beating League Two’s Fleetwood Town 1-0.
The FA Cup Third Round is where teams from the Premier League and Championship, the top two divisions of English football, compete in the world’s oldest knockout senior football competition.
Published in Dawn, January 11, 2026
