MAN UTD 1, FULHAM 1
(after extra time. Fulham won 4-3 on penalties)
Holders Manchester United suffered a dramatic penalty shootout defeat against Fulham at Old Trafford as their dream of returning to Wembley in the Emirates FA Cup disappeared
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed the crucial spot kicks with Fulham netting all four of their penalties in front of the Stretford End.
Earlier Calvin Bassey had headed Fulham in front in first half stoppage time before Bruno Fernandes equalised with 19 minutes of normal time left.
Nothing separated the teams after 120 minutes – there were also a total of 13 minutes of added time in the game – sending it to a penalty decider.
In this hugely disappointing season, the Reds still had two remaining hopes of silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League.
Now it is just one as they must pick themselves up for a big night on Thursday when they head to Spain to play Real Sociedad in the last 16 of the Europa League.
United head coach Ruben Amorim said: “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.
“It is important to say that with the substitutions we had our chance to win the game.”
On the penalty shootout, Amorim said: “I try to relax the players and they know that it is something that is technical but you have to be relaxed and confident.
“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. it’s impossible to know but you start understanding the players are better and we understand the league. We’ll see in the future.
“It’s really important but we have to recover the players. They were really tired, and we have three days [before they play Real Sociedad] and then here at Old Trafford against Arsenal.”
Fulham head coach Marco Silva said his club has a ‘great respect’ for the FA Cup: “From the first day of the competition, we were serious about it and want to still be there on the final day of it.
“We prepared well for the game for everything – 90 minutes, 120 minutes and penalties – and I think we deserved to win.
“The way the team played in the second half and all of extra time makes me really proud because we came here and were the dominant team. We were brave, we did it in our way. It was a big fight. I love the composure of our own players.
Embed from Getty ImagesFulham’s reward is a home quarter final against London neighbours Crystal Palace.
Alejandro Garnacho was left on the bench as one of two changes to the side that beat Ipswich on Wednesday.
Garnacho’s place went to Christian Eriksen while suspended defender Patrick Dorgu was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui as Amorim named only seven substitutes, including two goalkeepers.
Skipper Antonee Robinson, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey were all recalled following Fulham’s win at Wolves on Tuesday.
Emile Smith-Rowe returned to the bench after picking up an injury in last weekend’s home defeat by Crystal Palace.
Bruno Fernandes, with seven goals and four assists in his last 11 games, almost added to that in the 12th minute when a shot from the edge of the box was shovelled to safety by keeper Bernd Leno.
Rasmus Hojlund then fired wide at the near post after latching on to a low cross from Eriksen who then curled in a cross from the left which Leno beat away as United began to get a foothold in the game after an edgy opening.
Fulham’s best chance of the match arrived in the 38th minute when Sasa Lukic planted a free header well over the bat from Alex Iwobi’s cross.
Zirkzee went close with a near-post header from Fernandes’ cross from the left as United sought a breakthrough.
Disaster struck in injury time for the Reds as Fulham snatched the lead as United were undone from yet another set-piece – they have conceded 11 in the Premier League which is the joint worst.
A corner from former United player Andreas Pereira was flicked on by Rodrigo Muniz and Calvin Bassey was free at the far post to head home from six yards, his second goal of the season.
After a lukewarm start to the second period, Amorim made a double change in the 53rd minute as Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte made way for Lindelof and Garnacho.
Fernandes was again carrying the team as a drive from almost 30 yards forced a diving save from Leno.
Fulham came close to doubling their advantage when a shot by substitute Emile Smith Rowe from the edge of the box forced a decent stop low down from Andre Onana.
Two further United changes were made with 22 minutes remaining as Hojlund and Eriksen made way for Chido Obi and Casemiro.
United levelled in the 71st minute when Garnacho fed Diogo Dalot who cut the ball back from the left for Fernandes to find the net with a low drive from just inside the box for his 11th goal of the season.
Fulham came close to taking the lead in the fourth of eight added minute when a low drive from outside the area was kept out by the fingertips of Onana.
United could have twice snatched victory in the 10th added minute as Garnacho scuffed a shot which Leno saved while Obi could have covered himself in glory but blazed wide.
United made a fifth change for the start of extra time as Harry Maguire was replaced by 18-year-old Ayden Heaven, a recent capture from Arsenal, who was making his debut.
Obi had a great chance to give the Reds the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first period of extra time, but his close-range shot was well tipped away to safety by Leno.
Fulham had a chance to take the lead at the start of the final period when a shot from substitute Ryan Sessegnon was well kept out by Onana.