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The recent third round of the FA Cup has emphatically demonstrated that the competition remains as captivating as ever. Celebrated for more than a century and a half for its dramatic encounters, unexpected upsets, and unforgettable moments, the FA Cup continues to deliver thrilling football experiences that resonate deeply with fans across generations. Despite modern changes such as the removal of replays—a move debated among supporters and clubs alike—the tournament is still producing compelling stories that highlight its enduring appeal.
This season’s third round saw an extraordinary total of 124 goals scored in 30 matches, marking the highest goal tally for this stage in 69 years. With an average of 4.1 goals per game, the excitement was palpable throughout the three-day period. Notably, just four of these were scored during extra time. Historically, the record remains 138 goals in the 1926-27 season, with similar high tallies appearing in the immediate post-war years of 1946-47 and 1956-57. Among the standout performances was Manchester City’s overwhelming 10-1 victory over Exeter City, contributing significantly to the goal glut, while other clubs like Wolves and Chelsea were also prolific, registering six and five goals respectively. The round featured four hat-tricks—an occurrence not witnessed in 14 years—further adding to the spectacle.
One of the most astonishing narratives unfolded at Moss Rose, where non-league Macclesfield managed what is arguably the greatest shock in FA Cup history. Facing Crystal Palace, the defending champions, Macclesfield’s two-goal victory defied their ranking as a team five divisions and 117 league places below their opponents. This result set a new benchmark in terms of the gap in league standings between FA Cup victors and vanquished teams. The win holds special significance as Macclesfield is the first non-league club to knock out the holders in over a century, since Palace themselves caused a similar upset against Wolves in 1908-09. The club’s dramatic story is heightened by their turbulent recent past, having folded in 2020 before re-emerging as a phoenix club and climbing rapidly through the leagues to their current position.
The tournament’s enduring draw is further emphasized by robust away fan support across the country. FA Cup regulations permit away teams to allocate up to 15% of the home stadium’s capacity to visiting supporters, a larger proportion than usually seen in league games. This allowance was taken full advantage of, with Aston Villa bringing around 9,000 fans to their victory over Tottenham Hotspur in London. Elsewhere, lower-league teams like Exeter and Sunderland also enjoyed strong traveling contingents, with thousands of supporters witnessing their matches live. Even clubs from the lower tiers, such as Weston-super-Mare, took hundreds of fans to challenging away fixtures, reflecting the passion and commitment the Cup inspires among football supporters at all levels.
Moreover, the absence of video assistant referee (VAR) and semi-automated offside technology until the fifth round has not detracted from the quality or fairness of the proceedings, despite the technology’s increasing presence at higher levels of the game. The Football Association decided to withhold these systems in the early rounds to maintain consistency, given the varying capabilities of stadiums at different levels. The third round unfolded without any major controversies, with one notable moment coming when Sunderland felt aggrieved by a late penalty decision against Everton. However, that incident did not overshadow the eventual result.
The elimination of replays, initially criticized for potentially harming lower-league clubs financially, was introduced to ease fixture congestion, especially for Premier League teams also competing in European competitions. This change has influenced squad selections, with Premier League sides averaging over six lineup changes per match in this round—the highest among English football’s top four tiers. Interestingly, no lower-league team has been knocked out by higher-division opposition via penalties this season when a replay would have been expected under previous rules. Among the beneficiaries of this format was Wrexham, the League Two club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who advanced past Premier League Nottingham Forest after a penalty shootout victory. This result is a continuation of the magic of the FA Cup, where any team, regardless of stature, can aspire to create history
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