It is typically one of the most exciting weekends on the English soccer calendar, as the FA Cup third round gets underway. This year was no different, as the oldest cup competition in world sport created more memories that only the FA Cup can do.
This weekends games saw a number of huge upsets, while it was the end of the round for one side in the eighth tier at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. All the main contenders got through, but there were no shortage of talking points across an action-packed weekend.
Soccer News: Chorley Stun Derby, Leeds Hammered By Crawley Town
The action got underway on Saturday lunchtime with a fixture between National League Chorley and Championship side Derby County. It would also become the first major scalp of the third round, as the hosts reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Derby had to contend with playing their Under 23s after a number of first team players were ruled out through COVID. However, that takes nothing away from an impressive Chorley performance as they won 2-0.
However, the biggest shock of the weekend came on Sunday, as Premier League Leeds United were hammered by Crawley Town. Three goals in 20 second half minutes by the hosts secured a famous 3-0 win over Leeds, who were at near full strength for the FA Cup tie. Nick Tsaroulla, Ashley Nadesan and Jordan Tunnicliffe scored the goals. There was also a debut in the match for former reality star Mark Wright, who played the final minutes.
Soccer News: Tottenham Make It Through On Historic Night
The biggest game of the third round took place on Sunday evening, as Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur visited eighth tier Marine. It was only the second time that a team from that level has reached the third round, and matters weren’t made any easier due to Marine having not played regularly due to their league being suspended due to COVID restrictions.
It would have been the biggest FA Cup shock of all-time had Marine have got through, and with fans living in the houses around the ground cheering them on, they were helpless in losing 5-0 to the Champions League-chasing Spurs. Carlos Vinicius scored a first half hat-trick, before Lucas Moura and 16-year-old Alfie Devine extended the lead. Regardless, the game would have been huge for Marine, as they would have made a massive financial gain from reaching this stage.
The draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday evening, as Crawley Town and Chorley will be looking for a dream tie against the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool.
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