Manchester United's hopes of retaining the FA Cup came crashing down at Old Trafford as they faced Fulham, with the visitors triumphing 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 following extra time. The fifth-round encounter was filled with drama, culminating in goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s heroics to send Marco Silva’s side through to the quarter-finals.
Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, United had reached the FA Cup final for the past two seasons, but on this occasion, they were left to reflect on what might have been as their inconsistent form over the course of the season came back to haunt them. Fulham, on the other hand, celebrated their entry to the last eight of the competition for the second time in three seasons.
The match kicked off with both sides eager to assert dominance. Fans at Old Trafford greeted the players with banners protesting the rising ticket prices—the backdrop to the match included phrases like ‘stop exploiting loyalty’ and ‘£66, your debt not ours,’ which highlighted discontent over ticket pricing amid the Glazers' continued ownership controversy.
Fulham struck first as Calvin Bassey headed home the opening goal just before the half-time whistle after benefitting from poor United defending. The move began with Bruno Fernandes leading disputes over the award of the corner, which Andreas Pereira delivered beautifully. Bassey's effort ignited joy among the traveling Fulham supporters who had made the trip to Manchester.
Manchester United’s response was swift as they sought to equalize. After failing to capitalize on early chances, Bruno Fernandes finally found the net in the 71st minute, bringing the score to 1-1. The captain met Diogo Dalot's cutback with precision, placing his left-footed strike past Leno, eliciting cheers from the home fans.
Despite both sides having opportunities to win the match during regular play and extra time, the deadlock remained unbroken. United’s Andre Onana managed to impress with several key saves, denying efforts from Fulham's Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon. Meanwhile, Fulham’s Leno was equally impressive, preventing setbacks from Lindelof and Zirkzee.
Going to penalties was not what either team had planned, but it became the defining moment of the match. After each side converted their first three spot-kicks, Leno turned from hero to savior, denying Victor Lindelof's attempt, which handed Fulham the advantage. Following Leno's save, Antonee Robinson confidently tucked away his penalty, leaving United needing to convert theirs to stay alive. Fulham’s victory was sealed when Leno again thwarted Zirkzee’s kick, ensuring Fulham would face Crystal Palace at home next.
Despite the disappointment, the atmosphere at Old Trafford mirrored Manchester United's struggles this season—the team languishing at 14th place—while Fulham's continued aim for European qualification adds to the excitement for their fans. This latest victory carries significant weight for Fulham, especially considering the dark memories of their last FA Cup encounter at Old Trafford, where they were marred by red cards during the last quarter-final two years ago.
Reflecting on the match, Fulham manager Marco Silva noted, "With the previous experiences we’ve had here, this win is particularly special. It shows the character and determination we have as a team. We fought until the end, and I'm proud of our players." For United, the disappointment was palpable. Erik ten Hag said post-match, "We need to regroup and analyze what went wrong. We can’t allow our standards to drop like this." The upcoming fixtures will be pivotal for the club as they try to salvage their season.
Salvaged moments of quality from both Leno and Fernandes demonstrated moments of brilliance throughout the match; fans left the stadium with contrasting feelings—Fulham rejoicing, and United forced to reckon with the harsh reality of their current form and setup.