Fulham’s Penalty Shootout Victory Over Manchester United in FA Cup Thriller

Fulham Triumphs Over Manchester United in Thrilling FA Cup Shootout

In a match that had fans on the edge of their seats, Fulham emerged victorious against FA Cup holders Manchester United in a dramatic penalty shootout. The fifth-round tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time, but it was Fulham’s Bernd Leno who stole the show by saving two penalties, leading his team to a 4-3 win in the shootout and securing their spot in 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, setting the stage for a 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 were on point, with Raúl Jiménez, Sander Berge, Willian, and Antonee Robinson all converting their shots. This victory sets up a quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace.

The match began with Fulham catching United’s defense off guard from an Andreas Pereira corner. Rodrigo Muniz nodded the ball on for Bassey, who headed home in his first FA Cup appearance, giving Fulham the lead just before halftime.

Fernandes brought United back into the game in the 71st minute with a well-placed left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box, which sailed past two Fulham defenders and Leno, finding the far corner of the net. This goal sent the game into extra time, where neither team could find a breakthrough.

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 currently 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.”

The match was filled with missed opportunities for both sides. United keeper André Onana made a crucial save to deny Emile Smith Rowe late in normal time. United also had several chances to seal the victory, with Leno making a point-blank save from Alejandro Garnacho and a diving save to deny 17-year-old Chido Obi.

Fulham boss Marco Silva was proud of his team’s performance, stating, “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.”

Fulham’s history in the FA Cup includes reaching their only final in 1975, where they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United. Leno expressed his desire to see Fulham return to Wembley, saying, “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%.”