Fulham keeper Bernd Leno saved two penalties as they beat FA Cup holders Manchester United 4-3 in a shootout to secure their spot in the quarter-finals after yesterday’s dramatic fifth-round tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time.
The match went to penalties after United’s Bruno Fernandes grabbed a second-half leveller following Calvin Bassey’s opener for Fulham in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
After a goalless extra time, Leno saved Victor Lindelof’s penalty, leaving United’s Joshua Zirkzee needing to bury his to keep their hopes alive. Yet he fired his effort straight at Leno sparking wild Fulham celebrations.
Raul Jimenez, Sander Berge, Willian and Antonee Robinson converted their penalties for Fulham, who will face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.
Fulham caught United’s defence flat-footed from Andreas Pereira’s corner to strike first blood seconds before halftime, with Rodrigo Muniz nodding on for Bassey to head home in his first FA Cup appearance.
Fernandes levelled in the 71st minute when Diogo Dalot cut it back from the left-hand side and United’s skipper unleashed a left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box that sailed past two Fulham defenders and goalkeeper Leno on its way into the far corner to send the game into extra time.
Thirteen-times FA Cup winners United defeated Manchester City last year and lost to City in the 2023 final.
But Ruben Amorim’s men have struggled mightily this season, languishing 14th in the Premier League, five places below Fulham.
Both sides squandered chances at winning goals in the breathless affair at Old Trafford. United keeper Andre Onana dived to push away a shot from Emile Smith Rowe late in normal time.
United then had several terrific chances to seal the victory seconds before the whistle sounded. Leno came out to save a point-blank shot from Alejandro Garnacho and then 17-year-old Chido Obi first stabbed the ball just wide of the net and then forced Leno to make a diving save.
Fulham reached their only FA Cup final in 1975 when they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United. Leno said he would like to see his team get back to Wembley for the final.
“Two years ago we lost here in the quarter-final (to Manchester United) and we’re in the quarter-final again,” he said. “We want to go to Wembley 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck scored deep into extra time to send Brighton and Hove Albion into the quarter-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Newcastle United after both teams were reduced to 10 men.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Brighton’s Yankubah Minteh scored in the first half before Welbeck struck the winner in the 114th minute with an exquisite finish from a tight angle.
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