The FA Cup third round once again lived up to its reputation as the most unpredictable stage in world football. From “Giant Killings” to record-breaking scorelines, the weekend delivered drama that will be remembered for decades.
The “Miracle of Moss Rose”: Macclesfield Make History
The headlines belong to Macclesfield FC. The sixth-division side pulled off what is being called the greatest upset in the competition’s 155-year history, eliminating the reigning champions, Crystal Palace.
Despite the 117-place gap in the English football pyramid, Macclesfield secured a 2-1 victory at a rocking Moss Rose stadium. Goals from captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts sealed the fate of the Eagles, proving that the “Magic of the Cup” is very much alive in 2026.
Man City Hit Double Figures at the Etihad
While Palace crumbled, Manchester City showed clinical ruthlessness. Pep Guardiola’s side (with Pep Lijnders taking the lead on the touchline) dismantled Exeter City with a staggering 10-1 victory.
The match was a dream debut for new signing Antoine Semenyo, who found the net alongside Rico Lewis (2), Tijjani Reijnders, and youngster Nico O’Reilly. The technical disparity was clear from the first whistle, sending a terrifying message to the rest of the competition.
Mixed Fortunes for the Premier League Giants
It was a weekend of contrasting emotions for the rest of the “Big Six”:
- Manchester United’s Old Trafford Nightmare: The Red Devils were dumped out of the competition by Brighton in a 2-1 loss. Adding insult to injury, it was former United academy graduate Danny Welbeck who scored the decisive goal, haunting his old club once again.
- Martinelli’s Masterclass: At Fratton Park, Arsenal left nothing to chance. Gabriel Martinelli was the star of the show, netting a brilliant hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Portsmouth.
- Newcastle’s Penalty Drama: In arguably the most thrilling game of the round, Newcastle and Bournemouth played out a chaotic 3-3 draw. The Magpies eventually progressed 7-6 on penalties, with Aaron Ramsdale emerging as the hero after saving three spot-kicks.
- Liverpool & Aston Villa Advance: Both sides avoided potential upsets, with Liverpool cruising to a 4-1 win over Barnsley and Aston Villa edging out Tottenham in an all-Premier League clash.
