Fulham Triumphs Over Manchester United in Thrilling FA Cup Shootout
In a match that had fans on the edge of their seats, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno emerged as the hero, saving two penalties to help his team secure a 4-3 victory in a shootout against FA Cup holders Manchester United. This dramatic fifth-round tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time, propelling Fulham into the quarter-finals.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with United’s Bruno Fernandes leveling the score in the second half after Calvin Bassey had given Fulham the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half. The game remained deadlocked through extra time, leading to the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
During the shootout, Leno’s heroics came to the fore as he saved Victor Lindelöf‘s penalty. The pressure then fell on United’s Joshua Zirkzee, who needed to score to keep United’s hopes alive. However, his shot was straight at Leno, sparking wild celebrations among the Fulham players and fans.
Fulham’s penalty takers, including Raúl Jiménez, Sander Berge, Willian, and Antonee Robinson, were flawless, ensuring their team’s progression to face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.
The match’s opening goal came from a well-executed corner by Andreas Pereira, with Rodrigo Muniz assisting Bassey to head home in his first FA Cup appearance. Fernandes’ equalizer in the 71st minute was a moment of brilliance, as he unleashed a left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box, sailing past two Fulham defenders and Leno into the far corner.
Getty Images
After the match, a jubilant Leno told the BBC, “Unbelievable. I think we deserved to win after 90 minutes. Of course, penalties, it is sometimes a lottery and luckily we won. The goalie coach told me a couple of information, but my feeling is more important. I went the wrong way three times, but credit to our penalty takers — it is not easy. Brilliant job from all of us.”
Manchester United, thirteen-times FA Cup winners, had defeated Manchester City last year and lost to City in the 2023 final. However, this season has been challenging for Ruben Amorim’s men, who are languishing 14th in the Premier League, five places below Fulham.
Amorim reflected on the match, saying, “I think we have the best chances in the game. In the end, the penalties can go both ways and today wasn’t our way. The goal is to win the Premier League. I know that we are losing games, but the goal is to win the Premier League again. I don’t know how long it will take. We have a goal and we continue forward no matter what.”
- Fulham’s only FA Cup final appearance was in 1975, where they lost 2-0 to West Ham United.
- Bernd Leno expressed his desire to see Fulham return to Wembley for the final.
- Fulham boss Marco Silva praised his team’s performance, stating they deserved to win in normal time.
Both teams had opportunities to clinch the match in regular time. United’s keeper André Onana made a crucial save against Emile Smith Rowe late in normal time. United also had several chances, with Leno denying Alejandro Garnacho and 17-year-old Chido Obi coming close to scoring.
Fulham’s manager, Marco Silva, was full of praise for his team, saying, “I think we were the best team on the pitch. Our team was on the ball dominating the ball. We deserve to be in the next stage.”
Leno, reflecting on the victory, added, “Two years ago we lost here in the quarterfinal [to Manchester United] and we’re in the quarter-final again. We want to go to Wembley 100%.”
Originally Written by: ESPN
