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Biggest Upset in FA Cup History? - FA Cup Roundup

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Biggest Upset in FA Cup History? - FA Cup Roundup

The FA Cup returned this weekend, and with that the typical "magic of the cup" sayings arrive with it. And these games delivered alright.

If anyone tuned in to watch Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest on Friday night, they would know that this was just the start of an epic weekend. Saturday gave us some memorable moments, shock upsets, and nail biting thrillers.

With 82 goals scored across the 18 games to take place on the day's action, Football Park is here to take you through this chaotic day of action.

117 Places Between Them!

We have to start with arguably the biggest upset in the history of the 155-year competition. When sixth-tier Maccelsfield Town took to the Leasing.com Stadium against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace, there were a mammoth 117 places between them in the English pyramid.

The National League North outfit came into this clash still mourning the loss of forward Ethan McLeod, who died in a car accident when travelling back from a league match last month.

Oliver Glasner made six changes to the Eagles lineup from their nil-all draw with Aston Villa midweek, and the South Londoners were stunned as the Silkmen put them to the sword in a generational upset.

Player of the match Paul Dawson put home the opener, a brilliant header to give the home fans belief of this fairytale coming true. This fairytale took another big leap to becoming reality shortly after the break, as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled their advantage. Yeremy Pino gave the visiting fans hope of a late comeback, but it was Macclesfield's day as they sent last year's holders out at the first time of asking.

Michelin Star Performance from Merciless Citizens

Moving past potentially the greatest upset in FA Cup history, Manchester City then decided to display a headline performance too as they put 10 (feels weird typing this) past a sorry Exeter City side, who simply stood no chance.

The Citizens were absolutely merciless at the Etihad, scoring 10 of their 21 shots on goal, as Grecians 'keeper Joe Whitworth had an afternoon he will want to forget.

After putting eight past Salford City at this stage last year, the 2024/25 runners up clearly had no time to waste, going even further as they look to make a statement and reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2023.

Max Alleyne put the hosts ahead, followed by a goal by Rodri and two own goals courtesy of Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater to see the scoreline quickly get away from the travelling League One side.

Pep Guardiola's side continued to stamp their dominance on the tie in the second half, with Rico Lewis adding to their tally, before he scored the tenth in injury time. Between this, Antoine Semenyo netted on his debut after transferring from Bournemouth last week. Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O'Reilly and Ryan McAidoo also added to their scoreline before teenager George Birch gave the Grecians consolation late on.

All-Premier League Clashes Deliver

Throughout the day, there were three FA Cup clashes contested by two Premier League sides. In the lunchtime kick-off, Everton welcomed this season's surprise package Sunderland as the Hill Dickinson Stadium hosted its first FA Cup match.

The Black Cats dominated the majority of the fixture, and could have quite easily won the game in normal time. They took the lead inside the first half hour, as Enzo Le Fee smartly put them in front.

James Garner gave the Toffees hope late on, as he converted a spot-kick to send the game into extra-time; ironically this would be the last penalty they would score, however. Sunderland 'keeper Robin Roefs became the match hero in the shootout, saving all three Evertonian spot-kicks, leaving Luke O'Nien to slot home the decisive penalty to book the North-East side's spot in the next round.

We then headed to Tyneside where Newcastle United looked to join the round four hat alongside foes Sunderland, as they welcomed Semenyo-less Bournemouth to St James' Park. Remarkably, despite the six-goal thriller, no goals were found in the opening period. Although, shortly after the break, Harvey Barnes was on hand to score the opener, continuing his fine form after scoring the winner against Leeds just days ago, before Alex Scott replied swiftly.

The score wasn't level for long, with David Brooks putting the visitors in front, before a 95th minute penalty scored by Anthony Gordon saw the game head for another half hour's play to decide the game. Barnes thought he had then scored the winner in the 118th minute, but a Marcus Tavernier goal just two minutes later sent the match to another penalty shootout. After nine rounds of penalties, Bafode Diakite's saved penalty by Aaron Ramsdale meant the Magpies had secured themselves a spectacular spot in the fourth round.

Lastly, potentially which was on paper as the game of the round, was Thomas Frank's under pressure Tottenham Hotspur locked horns with title contenders Aston Villa in North London on a very chilly afternoon in the capital.

Villa got off a very strong start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Emiliano Buendia giving the visitors an important lead in the 22nd minute, before an in-form Morgan Rogers doubled their just before the interval. The Lilywhites came out fighting in the second half, but despite a Wilson Odobert goal, it wasn't enough for them, and Frank is now under more pressure and heat than ever.

Goals Goals Goals

Wolverhampton Wanderers got their FA Cup campaign off to a triumphant start, as they continued some surprising form they had found in recent weeks to fire six past a helpless League Two Shrewsbury Town. Goals from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Jhon Arias gave Wolves an early two-goal lead, before a penalty from John Marquis got the visitors back into the game. Strand Larsen struck his second before the break, before making it a hat-trick just shy of the hour mark; Rodrigo Gomes and Tolu Arokodare then made it five and six as the midlands outfit ran rampant at Molineux.

Boreham Wood's 2025/26 campaign came to an end at home to a Burton Albion side not willing to allow the hosts another chance at an upset, after the Londoners had already breezed past Crawley Town and Newport County. Kyran Lofthouse got his side in the mood 10 minutes before the break, with Charlie O'Connell own goal giving the hosts work to do in the second period to find a way to put their name in the hat for the fourth round. Fabio Tavares made his mark shortly after coming off the bench, before Dylan Williams and John McKiernan made sure that Albion would comfortably navigate their way into the next round.

Burnley welcomed Championship and playoff-chasing Millwall to Turf Moor in what was anticipated to be a very entertaining game; it was far from it - unless you were a Clarets fan of course. Ashley Barnes scored his first of the afternoon early on, with Loun Tchaouna and Jaidon Anthony also adding to the scoreline. Goals from Barnes and Jaydon Banel sealed the deal in Lancashire, although Josh Coburn to get a goal back to send the visiting supporters back with a goal.

At the Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster Rovers welcomed Southampton, with Donny looking to upset the odds and advance to the next round - and had they not had a disastrous first period, they may well have progressed. Cameron Bragg opened the scoring, before Cameron Archer and Kuryu Matsuki added to practically put their name in the hat, but a tough challenge was to come out after the interval. Doncaster came out rallying in the second period, and goals from Matthew Pearson and Jordan Gibson made for a very nervy final half hour for the visitors, but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

Next, an all-Championship clash took to the FA Cup stage, as Bristol City welcomed Watford to Ashton Gate. The Hornets had an extraordinarily strong ending to their 2025, but their FA Cup adventure didn't last long, as they were swiftly dispatched by a rampant Robins led by an impressive Emil Jakobsen hat-trick. Goals from Anis Mehmeti and Robert Atkinson put the tie beyond reach of the Hornets, despite a late goal from Jack Grieves.

A very exciting tie followed in Cambridge, who saw Tom Brady-backed Birmingham City come to town, and it wasn't made easy for the visitors. Two first half goals from Kai Wagner and Kyogo Furuhashi put Brum in cruise control in the opening period, before Marvin Ducksch goal in the 78th minute made for nice reading for the travelling support, but a late quick-fire brace from substitute Sullay Kaikai made for a very nervy final moments at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

Next, National League South side Weston Super-Mare travelled to Grimsby Town, looking for the afternoon's second large-scale upset. It was a very tight match throughout, with chances abundant for both sides. Despite Grimsby general dominance and control, the visitors did make it difficult to be broken down, and when they were they would find an instant response. Charles Vernam gave the hosts the lead at the interval, but a goal from Luke Coulson levelled the tie after 50 minutes. A Jaze Kabia goal was then cancelled out by Louis Britton as the game looked destined for 30 minutes of additional time. A late Kieran Green goal, however, saw dreams of a fourth round berth fade in the dying moments.

Lastly, the chaotic day's action ended how it started, this time a six-goal thriller at The Valley. A London derby, contested by Charlton Athletic and Chelsea was destined to be a very entertaining game, with Liam Rosenior taking charge of his first official game in the dugout. The game didn't provide much in the first half, but ended with spectacular finish from Jorrel Hato to rifle the Blues into a half-time lead. Tosin Adarabioyo then gave the visitors a cushion, before a poor parry save from Filip Jorgensen allowed Miles Leaburn to half the deficit. Marc Guiu quickly restored Chelsea's two-goal lead, before goals from Neto and Enzo Fernandez in stoppage-time saw the Blues comfortably enter their name into the hat for the fourth round, as the Rosenior era has started in emphatic fashion.