FA Cup Miracle: Port Vale Destroys the English Pyramid

STOKE, SUNDAY - It is difficult to explain logically, but the key team from the third division or League One in England managed to defeat a team from the highest division. This major surprise occurred in the fifth round of the FA Cup, when Port Vale eliminated Sunderland. The tradition of miraculous stories from underdog teams has once again flourished in this oldest competition in the world.

Port Vale and Sunderland are separated by 57 ranks in the English football pyramid. However, this significant disparity on paper did not apply at Vale Park Stadium, Stoke, on Sunday (8/3/2026) WIB. The Port Vale squad, performing valiantly in front of their home supporters, managed to defeat the visiting team 1-0 with a solitary goal from midfielder Ben Waine.

The victory felt utopian, especially for Waine. The goal scorer grew up as a supporter of Newcastle United. Sunderland is Newcastle's biggest rival. "There is nothing better than this. It is something I never even dreamed of. It wasn't a beautiful match to watch, but we fought tooth and nail for it," said Waine.

Vale Park Stadium has a capacity of only 18,000 spectators, but the atmosphere of joy felt as if it could reach the sky after the final whistle. Supporters embraced each other, celebrating the team's advancement to the quarter-finals for the first time in 71 years. They sang the song "Glad All Over" loudly.

The difference between the two division levels may not seem significant from a numerical perspective. However, the gap is very wide. The English Premier League, the top division, has different standards as the most competitive domestic league in the world. With strong financial conditions, Premier League teams can create quality squads. This is not something that teams from lower divisions possess.

Just look at the difference in quality between the Port Vale and Sunderland squads, which is like night and day. The total market value of the home squad is only 7.95 million pounds sterling (Rp 180.4 billion). This amount is approximately 35 times smaller compared to the Sunderland squad led by the renowned midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris stated that the advantage in quality does not mean much as they lost in fighting spirit. "Credit to our opponents. They played with hunger, patience, and high intensity. We were not at that level. This match was more about the battle for second balls; we did not show enough strength to dominate," he said.

Like an underdog team, Port Vale adopted a total defensive strategy. They implemented a very low defensive block or "bus parking" strategy, while hoping to capitalize on counterattack opportunities. The area of battle became increasingly confined as the match was predominantly played in Port Vale's half of the field. Physical duels also became a crucial element.

The persistence of the Port Vale squad allowed Waine and his teammates to take the lead first in the 28th minute. The goal came from a corner kick scheme. Although they could not score directly from the cross, they managed to win duels in the penalty area multiple times and created opportunities from the ensuing scramble.

Port Vale coach Jon Brady provided further context regarding the difficulty of the match. Port Vale is at the bottom of the 24 teams in League One after a third of the season remains. They have only won six times in the league throughout this season. The situation was exacerbated by the departure of the team's top scorer, Devante Cole, at the end of January.

The Port Vale players can create surprises as they play without pressure. Brady does not ask much from his players, only hoping they give their best for the supporters. The FA Cup is their only source of joy for the remainder of this season. "The fans have been through a lot (of difficulties)," said the coach.

According to Brady, this result is also inseparable from the great love within the club. From the supporters, players, coaching staff, to the club owner. "We have a fantastic owner in Carol Shanahan. She likens football to a game of snakes and ladders; you can go up and down (in an instant)," he said.

The analogy illustrates the owner's approach to running the club. The focus is not solely on business or achievements, but rather on how to sustain the club with values that prioritize a human-centered approach. Carol, along with her husband, Kevin Shanahan, took over Port Vale in 2019. They have been loyal supporters of the club for a long time.

Port Vale has already created two surprises in the past week. They first defeated the second division team (Championship League) Bristol City 1-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup, earlier this week. Their hero of victory was also the same, Waine, who scored the decisive goal at the end of extra time.

Thanks to these two miraculous stories, Port Vale can now accompany other major teams in the quarter-finals. They follow Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City, who had already qualified the day before. (AP/REUTERS)