Played at the Moss Rose (also known as the Leasing.com Stadium), the National League North outfit — sitting 117 league places below their Premier League opponents — delivered a disciplined, passionate performance that bridged the vast gap between the teams and etched their name into football folklore.
Captain Paul Dawson gave the Silkmen the lead in the 43rd minute with a powerful header from a Luke Duffy free-kick, rising highest despite sporting a blood-stained bandage from an earlier clash.
The home side doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts cleverly flicked a deflected effort past Palace goalkeeper Walter BenÃtez, wrong-footing the shot-stopper with an outstretched leg.
A late consolation arrived in the 90th minute courtesy of a stunning curling free-kick from Yéremy Pino, but it proved too little, too late as Macclesfield held firm through six minutes of added time to secure the win.
This result marks the biggest upset ever in the competition by league placings, surpassing previous records, and the first time a non-league team has knocked out the FA Cup holders since Crystal Palace themselves defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1908-09 season — an ironic twist of history.
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