FA Cup Third Round Delivers Record Goals and Shocking Upsets
This season's record-breaking third round of the FA Cup has proven that the tournament still holds significant importance in football.
The FA Cup's storied 155-year history is characterized by unforgettable moments, surprising upsets, and thrilling drama.
Known for generating tales that fans recount on stadium concourses across the country, the competition continues to captivate audiences, despite recent changes such as the controversial elimination of replays, which have not deterred clubs from making extensive lineup alterations.
Most Third-Round Goals in 69 Years
Since the third round began featuring 32 ties in the 1925-26 season (excluding 1945-46, when two-legged ties were played), only three instances have seen more goals scored. This year, a total of 124 goals were netted across 30 fixtures over the weekend, averaging 4.1 goals per game, with two more matches set to take place: Premier League champions Liverpool versus League One Barnsley on Monday, and League Two Salford City against Swindon Town on Tuesday. Notably, only four goals were scored in extra time.
The record for the most third-round goals remains 138, set in the 1926-27 season, with 128 goals recorded in both the 1946-47 and 1956-57 seasons.
Manchester City made a significant contribution to the goal tally, defeating League One Exeter City 10-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, Premier League side Wolves scored six against League Two Shrewsbury Town, and Chelsea, Burnley, Bristol City, Burton Albion, and Norwich City each tallied five goals. League One Mansfield Town triumphed in a thrilling seven-goal match against Championship side Sheffield United, while Wrexham and Newcastle United advanced via penalty shootouts after entertaining 3-3 draws. The four hat-tricks scored marked the highest number in the third round in 14 years.
Macclesfield Records Biggest Ever Shock
The standout story of the round was non-league Macclesfield's astonishing FA Cup upset against holders Crystal Palace. Ranked five divisions and 117 places below their Premier League opponents, Macclesfield secured a deserving 2-1 victory, marking the greatest shock in the competition's history based on league standings at kick-off.
Macclesfield became the first non-league team to eliminate the FA Cup holders since Crystal Palace defeated Wolves in the first round of the 1908-09 season. This victory also marked only the ninth occasion in the last century that a non-league side has triumphed over a top-flight opponent. The club, which faced a turbulent history after folding in 2020, has since reformed and achieved three promotions in four seasons, reaching the National League North.
Away Fans Show Up for the Cup
The packed away stands across the nation indicate that the FA Cup retains its appeal. The competition allows for an away allocation of up to 15% of the home stadium's capacity, significantly higher than typical league matches. Aston Villa, for instance, brought 9,000 supporters to north London for their 2-1 win over Premier League rivals Tottenham. Similarly, Exeter's near 8,000-strong away support cheered on their team at Manchester City, while Sunderland celebrated their penalty shootout victory at Everton with 7,732 traveling fans. Leeds United also had over 5,000 supporters in attendance during their win at Derby County, and sixth-tier Weston-super-Mare brought 600 fans to Grimsby, narrowly losing 3-2.
No VAR, No Problem?
This season, the video assistant referee (VAR) system and semi-automated offside technology will not be implemented until the fifth round, consistent with the previous season. The Football Association has opted for this approach to maintain consistent officiating across the third and fourth rounds, given the technology's requirements at stadiums. Despite the increasing use of technology in football, many decisions remain contentious, and delays for reviews frustrate fans. Fortunately, the third round proceeded without any major controversies overshadowing the matches, although Sunderland was left aggrieved after a late penalty awarded to Everton, which appeared to involve minimal contact.
Wrexham Among Winners with Loss of Replays
Last season saw the scrapping of FA Cup replays from the first round onwards, a decision criticized by many clubs in the EFL and lower leagues for eliminating a traditional revenue source. The change was implemented to alleviate the fixture congestion faced by Premier League clubs, particularly with nine top-flight teams qualifying for European competitions this season. On average, the 19 Premier League clubs that competed in the third round made 6.4 changes to their lineups, an increase from 5.9 last season and still the highest among England's top four divisions.
Championship and League Two clubs also saw an uptick in the average number of changes made during the third round, while only League One bucked this trend. However, no lower-league team has been eliminated by Premier League opposition on penalties this season, a scenario that would have resulted in a replay under the old rules. League Two's MK Dons were the only team to miss out on a replay, falling to Championship side Oxford United in a penalty shootout. Among the season's beneficiaries was Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who eliminated top-flight Nottingham Forest on penalties.