FA Cup Weekend Delivers 124 Goals and Historic Upset

The FA Cup just delivered one of its most thrilling weekends in nearly 70 years, reminding everyone why this 155-year-old tournament remains special.

Across 30 matches played from Friday through Sunday, fans witnessed 124 goals fly into nets, averaging more than four goals per game. Only three times since 1925 has the third round produced more scoring, with the record of 138 goals set way back in 1926-27.

Manchester City contributed ten goals in a single match against Exeter City, while four different players scored hat tricks across the weekend. Seven matches saw five or more goals, turning stadiums into celebrations of attacking football.

But the weekend's biggest story came from a team that plays five divisions below England's top league. Macclesfield, a non-league club that literally folded and reformed as a phoenix club just four years ago, stunned defending champions Crystal Palace 2-1.

The victory marked the biggest upset in FA Cup history based on league position difference, with Macclesfield sitting 117 places below their Premier League opponents. It was only the ninth time in 100 years that a non-league side has beaten a top-flight team.

The Ripple Effect

The magic extended beyond the pitch and into the stands, where fans showed up in remarkable numbers. Aston Villa brought 9,000 supporters to their match at Tottenham, while third-tier Exeter traveled with nearly 8,000 fans to watch their team at Manchester City.

Even sixth-tier Weston-super-Mare managed to bring 600 supporters on the road, nearly pulling off their own giant-killing before falling 3-2. Leeds United, Sunderland, and other clubs all saw thousands of away fans pack opponent stadiums, taking advantage of the FA Cup's generous 15% away allocation rule.

The enthusiasm proved that despite modern concerns about fixture congestion and the controversial elimination of replay matches, the tournament still captures imaginations. Young fans experienced the same edge-of-seat drama their grandparents talk about, creating new stories to share for generations.

For Macclesfield, a club that climbed from the ninth tier to the fifth in just four seasons after reforming, the victory represents more than just one result. Their journey from folding in 2020 to making history in 2025 shows how passion and community can rebuild something thought lost forever.