Non-league Maidstone United have pulled off one of the biggest shocks ever seen in the FA Cup after beating Ipswich in the fourth round.
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Maidstone claim historic 2-1 winIpswich had 38 attempts at goalSixth-tier side through to fifth roundWHAT HAPPENED?
The sixth-tier team remarkably beat Championship side Ipswich away from home thanks to goals from Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne. The visitors scored with their only two shots at goal, while Ipswich incredibly had 38 total attempts, and enjoyed a massive 79% of the possession, but could only find a way past Lucas Covolan once. Indeed, the Brazilian goalkeeper, who has represented his country at U-20 level in the past, made 12 saves over the course of the 90 minutes and was deservedly awarded the man of the match.
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The result is made all the more remarkable by the fact that Maidstone are currently in the National League South, and are over 100 places below Ipswich in the English football pyramid. Indeed, they faced Wrexham twice last season, losing both times to Phil Parkinson's side, and finished bottom of the National League, while the Red Dragons were promoted to League Two. Ipswich, meanwhile, could well be in the Premier League next season as they sit fourth in the Championship and eye promotion to the top division in English football.
Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
After Maidstone went ahead late in the first half of the clash at Portman Road, Ipswich managed to pull level in the 56th minute. Despite the hosts dominating the game and peppering their opponent's goal with shots, Maidstone managed to find the winner midway through the second period. Thanks to Covolan and his 12 saves, they became the first team from English football's sixth-tier to go as far as the fifth round of the FA Cup since the 1977-78 campaign.
WHAT THEY SAID
Maidstone boss and former Wolves defender George Elokobi told at full-time: "We said leave nothing in the changing room. They ran themselves into the ground and I’m immensely proud of each and every one of them. They just ran that one more step, they took that one more step. For us, for our community. This binds us for life. What our boys achieved now has never been done in 127 years. It’s history again. The magic of the FA Cup is very much alive."