Maidstone United, a team from the sixth division, caused a major upset in the FA Cup by defeating Ipswich Town 2-1 in the fourth round, securing their place in the last 16.
Despite Ipswich Town playing in the Championship, which is four tiers above Maidstone United and holding a 98-place advantage in the English football hierarchy, the magic of the FA Cup once again unfolded. The match at Portman Road saw the home side dominate, hitting the post three times in the first half. However, Lamar Reynolds punished Ipswich with a goal two minutes before halftime. Although Ipswich managed to equalize early in the second half through Jeremy Sarmiento, Maidstone United, against expectations, held their ground under pressure. Lukas Kovolan, their goalkeeper, made crucial saves, and Sam Korn scored in the 66th minute, securing a historic victory.
Maidstone United's journey in the FA Cup has been extraordinary, starting from the preliminary qualifiers with consecutive wins over teams from the ninth, seventh, and sixth divisions to qualify for the first round, which includes professional teams. They then defeated Chesham (seventh tier), Barrow (fourth tier), Stevenage (third tier), and finally, Ipswich (second tier).
As the first sixth-division team in history to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup, Maidstone United is now hoping for a home clash with a Premier League side in what would be the club's most significant moment in its 32-year history. The draw for the next round is set to take place on Sunday. /BGNES
