As this FA Cup fifth-round penalty shootout reached its climax, Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee were the unfortunate ones whose kicks were saved, ending Manchester United’s FA Cup defence and sending Fulham through.
The shootout score was 4-3 to the visitors who, marginally, deserved their passage, though this was a slog through 120 minutes of meagre fare that was no advertisement for the world’s oldest knockout competition.
Two years ago Lindelöf was United’s hero, with his penalty, after semi-final extra time against Brighton, taking Erik ten Hag’s side to the showpiece, which they lost 2-1 to Manchester City.
In 2022-23 the Dutchman had already guided United to the Carabao Cup and followed that with last season’s triumph in this competition. But, if Ruben Amorim is to emulate his predecessor with a trophy in a first campaign, then it will have to be in the Europa League, in which he takes his beleaguered team to Real Sociedad for Thursday’s last-16 opening leg.
Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved Lindelöf’s and Zirkzee’s penalties and Marco Silva’s side now stand two matches away from a Wembley tilt at a first major piece of silverware.
United were the same old sorry tale: a liability at the back and toothless in the final third.
Fulham had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time when Calvin Bassey headed in from close range after Rodrigo Muniz had flicked on a corner, but Bruno Fernandes equalised with a superb shot from the edge of the area in the 71st minute.
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Jamie Jackson’s full match report to follow
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