The FA Cup finalists experienced polar opposite fortunes: the runner-up advanced with a 10-1 thrashing, while the champion was knocked out by an amateur team.

Can you imagine? At only the third round of this season's FA Cup, last season’s finalists have met wildly contrasting fates. The runner-up, Manchester City, cruised to a 10-1 win with seven scorers; in stark contrast, the reigning champions Crystal Palace lost to a sixth-level amateur English side, producing a massive upset that stunned the football world, freezing everyone in disbelief.

On January 10th at 11 PM Beijing time, in the FA Cup third round, Manchester City hosted League One side Exeter City (third tier). The match turned into a brutal football ping-pong! Manchester City demolished Exeter City 10-1 to easily progress to the fourth round! In this game, new signing Semenyo made his debut with a goal and an assist, and seven different City players scored. Starting right-back Lewis contributed two goals and one assist, directly involved in three goals. Haaland started but was silent in the first half, scoring only once in his last five games, continuing his poor form! Fans joked: the goalkeepers had the worst night—one lost his clean sheet, the other conceded ten goals, and the "demon" forgot his shooting boots at home...

On January 10th at 8:15 PM Beijing time, in the FA Cup third round, the defending champions Crystal Palace faced an amateur team away from home.Micklefield (Northern Premier League, the sixth tier team)The result was a monumental football upset as the defending champions Crystal Palace were defeated 2-1 and eliminated in the third round! The starting lineups’ market values were €230 million versus €450,000—a difference of over 500 times! This is an unfathomable giant-killing! After Micklefield knocked out Crystal Palace, fans stormed the pitch to celebrate passionately, showcasing perhaps the most beautiful side of football!

Last season, several Premier League teams won long-awaited titles, with Crystal Palace claiming the FA Cup—their first-ever trophy in the club’s 164-year history. Now, as defending champions, they were eliminated by a sixth-tier amateur team this season. The club’s management, coaches, players, and fans must be deeply embarrassed—it’s truly a poor performance...