Own goal ends Macclesfield’s FA Cup Dream — and more

Macclesfield’s fairytale FA Cup run was ended in heartbreaking fashion as Brentford scraped through with a narrow 1-0 victory in their fourth-round clash at Moss Rose.

The National League North side, giant-killers against Crystal Palace in the previous round, once again proved they belonged on the big stage. Despite sitting 116 places below their Premier League opponents, they matched Brentford for intensity and organisation, particularly in an impressive first-half showing.

Keith Andrews rotated heavily, making several changes to his side, and Brentford lacked fluency early on. Macclesfield pressed with energy, unsettled their visitors and created the more encouraging openings, but couldn’t find the finish their performance deserved.

As legs began to tire, the top-flight side gradually increased the pressure. The breakthrough came with 20 minutes remaining when Aaron Hickey burst down the left and fired a low cross into the danger area. Under pressure, Sam Heathcote inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net - a desperately unlucky moment that ultimately settled the tie.

The Silkemen threw everything forward late on and came agonisingly close to forcing extra time, but Brentford survived.

The Bees now head to West Ham in the next round, while the Silkmen exit the competition with immense credit after another fearless display.

The Carolina Hurricanes have made a significant commitment to undrafted goalie Brandon Bussi, signing him to a $5.7 million contract. The team's decision indicates strong confidence in the netminder despite his undrafted status.

According to a report from the German publication Fussball Daten, a transfer battle is brewing for RB Leipzig attacker Antonio Nusa. Scouts from Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur are regulars at matches throughout the 2025/26 campaign. They keep a close eye on his progress.

Aston Villa eye Norwegian talent Antonio Nusa

The 20-year-old forward is still a top target for Premier League recruitment teams. This interest stems from earlier links to the player during his time in Belgium. Current valuations suggest a successful bid will take somewhere between €50 million and €60 million. That kind of money might be enough to convince the Bundesliga side to sell this summer.

Tactical analysis: Does Nusa fit the Villa project?

Antonio Nusa is already a standout figure for the Norway national team. He brings a style of play that differs from what Villa currently have at Villa Park. The young winger is at his best on the left flank. Out there, he uses explosive pace and clever body feints to beat defenders one-on-one.

Stats from the 2025/26 season show Nusa is starting to find his final ball. He picked up three goals and three assists across all competitions by mid-February. While those scoring numbers might look modest, his underlying data is impressive. Nusa’s stats for driving the ball forward and beating his man put him among the elite young attackers in Europe.

MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 28: Antonio Nusa of Leipzig during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig at Borussia-Park on November 28, 2025 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images)

Aston Villa are looking for more spark upfront right now. This comes after disappointing loan spells from Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott. Sancho has plenty of technical class, but he lacks the raw speed and confidence Unai Emery needs to catch teams on the break.

On the flip side, Nusa plays with a directness that pulls defenders out of position. This directness creates the exact kind of space Ollie Watkins needs to cause damage through the middle. His main flaw is still a habit of over-dribbling in tight spots. Better Premier League teams might jump on those mistakes and force turnovers.

Looking at whether they really need the Norway winger, the Birmingham club definitely need some fresh pace and a bit of the unexpected. The Aston Villa attack has become somewhat predictable against low-block defences this term.

This happens because the team rely on players who always want the ball played to their feet. Bringing in Nusa would give them a long-term fix on the wing. He also works hard defensively and isn’t afraid to track back. If the club can handle the high price tag, this Norwegian talent could turn the side into a much more balanced and dangerous attacking force.

When actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took over as owners of then-National League side Wrexham AFC, there was understandably plenty of skepticism and mockery from the soccer community.

That's no longer the case.

And now, Wrexham has chance to write yet another chapter to its incredible story.

In five years, Wrexham have shot up the EFL pyramid, going from a non-league side to the second-tier EFL Championship — just one level shy of the Premier League. Wrexham already became the first club in EFL history to have three straight promotions, and it currently is in a play-off position for an unthinkable rise to the Premier League.

Beyond that, though, Wrexham reached the final 16 of the FA Cup for the first time since 1997. And on Monday, Reynolds found out who the Red Dragons will host at the Racecourse Ground. And, uh, it's a big one. Just check out Reynolds' reaction alongside Hugh Jackman. (Warning: NSFW language)

Another incredible FA Cup tie at the STōK Cae Ras to look forward too ⚔️

🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC

pic.twitter.com/hTO5Gs0dT7

— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) February 16, 2026

Wrexham will host Premier League giants Chelsea in that fifth-round matchup, bringing the West London powerhouse all the way to North Wales.

That's the exact kind of scenario I'd hope for if I had a wildly popular documentary series. Safe to say that draw worked out for Reynolds — win or lose — come March 7 or 8.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ryan Reynolds had stunned reaction to Wrexham's dream FA Cup draw