One of the biggest surprises of this season’s FA Cup unfolded as Port Vale, the bottom side in League One, produced a historic upset by knocking out Sunderland and advancing to the quarter-finals.

Coming into the match as clear underdogs against their Premier League opponents, Port Vale delivered a disciplined and fearless performance in front of their home supporters. The decisive moment arrived in the 28th minute - the hosts won a corner and executed a well-worked routine before delivering a dangerous cross into the penalty area. The Sunderland defence failed to clear the ball, and Ben Waine reacted quickest, powering a header towards the far corner. Goalkeeper Elias Ellborg managed to get a hand to the ball but could not prevent it from crossing the line.

The 1–0 victory writes a remarkable chapter in the club’s history. Port Vale reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years, joining heavyweights such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Southampton in the next round.

2025-26, England - FA Cup

Port Vale - Sunderland 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: Waine, 28 (1:0)

Port Vale: Gauci; Hall C.; Lawrence-Gabriel; Ojo; Gordon L. S. (Campbell Elijah, 81); Humphreys-Grant (Magloire, 46); Archer E-n (Hall, 57); Walters R.; Brown D-e (Gray, 57); Waine (Ward G., 88); John K.
Substitution: Magloire (from 46); Hall (from 57); Gray (from 57); Campbell Elijah (from 81); Ward G. (from 88)
Bench: Amos; Shipley; Hernandez O.
Yellow Cards: Brown D-e 30; Waine 54

Sunderland: Ellborg; Ballard; Geertruida; Alderete; O'Nien; Diarra H.; Le Fée; Talbi (Isidor W., 68); Rigg (Xhaka, 83); Angulo; Mayenda
Substitution: Isidor W. (from 68); Xhaka (from 83)
Bench: Moore S.; Aleksiс М.; Jones Har.; Abdullahi
Yellow Cards: Ellborg 61