Manchester United 1, Fulham 1 (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties, FA Cup 5th Round)
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed spot kicks in Manchester United’s FA Cup shootout exit at the hands of Fulham.
Calvin Bassey had earlier put the Cottagers ahead in first half stoppage time but Bruno Fernandes levelled matters to send the 5th round tie into stoppage time and then Extra Time and penalties.
But the exhausted Reds were denied by Bernd Leno’s shootout saves to crash out of the FA Cup.
United were poor in the first half but were ironically improving by the end of a dull first half when Fulham caught them out with a corner routine that saw Andreas Pereira’s corner reach Calvin Bassey via a flick on from Rodrigo Muniz.
The unmarked Fulham defender was given all the space he needed to get a run up to head the ball home at the back post.
United made changes early in the second half bringing on Alejandro Garnacho and Victor Lindelof for Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro but the Cottagers still looked dangerous.
Andre Onana had to make reflex save to deny Emile Smith Rowe as after their defence had been cut apart by Antonee Robinson and Pereira again.
Casemiro and Chido Obi were introduced with 22 minutes to go to try and save the tie – replacing Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund.
And captain Bruno Fernandes soon proved United’s hero once again after he swept in the equaliser from 16 yards out with 19 minutes to go.
But United could not find the extra goal they needed despite going close several times before the end of normal time and extra time before the Reds had to settle for a penalty shootout lottery.
Fulham scored all their spot kicks but Victor Lindelof and the luckless Joshua Zirkzee missed theirs as an exhausted United will have to find the energy to go again on Thursday at Real Sociedad
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, Fulham 1 (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties, FA Cup 5th Round)
Andre Onana: 7. Heart in mouth time when he dropped a looping cross from Timothy Castagne but recovered to jump on top of the loose ball. Reflex saves twice denied Emile Smith Rowe a goal before saving from Ryan Sessegnon and Willian’s free kick deep into extra time. Couldn’t help United in the shootout.
Leny Yoro: 6. Tracked Andreas Pereira back and managed to take the ball out of danger.
Harry Maguire: 7. Had a bad time looking after Rodrigo Muniz but helped clear the ball away from Muniz as tried to get a shot off.
Mathijs De Ligt: 7. Did a last ditch tackle to deny Andreas Pereira a chance to shoot and cleared some danger in the second half. Looked exhausted at the end.
Noussair Mazraoui: 7. Header easy to save for Bernd Leno.
Manuel Ugarte: 6. Industrious in midfield. Earned a booking for foul. Not afraid of having a shot.
Christian Eriksen: 6. Signs of quality. Early cross created chance for Rasmus Hojlund and almost curled one in himself.
Diogo Dalot: 7. Stuck at left wing back again, one of his few good balls into the box ended up setting up Bruno Fernandes for the equaliser.
Joshua Zirkzee: 5. Stabbed a shot wide but otherwise cut an isolated figure when he tried to go forward and easily neutralised. Late long ball released Alejandro Garnacho but looked tired long before the end and he wasn’t the only one. Missed the crucial penalty.
Bruno Fernandes: 8. Put a shift in and was everywhere throughout. Early shot to test Bernd Leno, cross set up Joshua Zirkzee for a first half chance. Reduced to hit and hope in the second half but one of those shots went in. What would United do without him?
Rasmus Hojlund: 5. Good movement but no end product. Shot wide when an early cross came in from Christian Eriksen. Was well contained by Calvin Bassey.
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Manuel Ugarte, 53): 6. Went for glory late in the game when there were other options open. Fluffed a last gasp chance to win it and again at the start of extra time. Did not take a penalty in the shootout.
Victor Lindelof (on for Leny Yoro, 53): 6. Tied up in knots by Andreas Pereira. Missed a penalty in the shootout.
Casemiro (on for Christian Eriksen, 68): 6. Went into midfield and sprayed some passes around. Shot wide deep into extra time.
Chido Obi (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 68): 6. Had as many big chances to score in 52 minutes (3) than Rasmus Hojlund has had all season in 22 Premier League games. Cheered on by the Old Trafford crowd when he came on. Outmuscled Calvin Bassey but his shot went wide with fans out of their seats in added time. Also pressed with intent and had a golden chance to win in the last minute of added time after 90 before forcing a save from Bernd Leno at the end of the first period of added time.
Ayden Heaven (on for Harry Maguire, 91): 6. Took up the central defensive role. Struggled a bit with physicality.
GOALS – Manchester United 1, Fulham 1 (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties, FA Cup 5th Round)
Man Utd 0, Fulham 1: 45+2. Calvin Bassey was unmarked at the back post 6 yards out and headed home Rodrigo Muniz’ flick on following Andreas Pereira’s corner. Yet another set piece concession by haphazard United.
Man Utd 1, Fulham 1: 71. Bruno Fernandes to the rescue again with a long range shot from 16 yards out after a cutback by Diogo Dalot from the left flank.
PENALTIES – Manchester United 1, Fulham 1 (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties, FA Cup 5th Round)
At Stretford End
1-0 Bruno Fernandes scores bottom left corner
1-1 Raul Jimenez hits his penalty into the left side after a stuttering run up
2-1 Diogo Dalot chooses the bottom right corner, sending Bernd Leno the wrong way
2-2 Sander Berge fires his spot kick into the top left corner beyond the reach of Andre Onana who guessed right
3-2 Casemiro with a firm effort to the top left corner with Bernd Leno going the wrong way
3-3 Willian rolls his penalty into the bottom right corner with Andre Onana wongfooted.
3-3 Victor Lindelof has his spot kick SAVED to the left and too close to Bernd Leno
3-4 Antonee Robinson fired into the bottom left corner with Andre Onana going the wrong way
3-4 Joshua Zirkzee has his penalty SAVED to the right – Fulham win the shootout and Zirkzee is alone on his haunches distraught.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Fulham 1 (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties, FA Cup 5th Round)
Man Utd: Onana, Yoro (Lindelof 53), Maguire (Heaven 91), De Ligt, Mazraoui, Ugarte (Garnacho 53), Eriksen (Casemiro 68), Dalot, Zirkzee, Fernandes (C), Hojlund (Obi 68)
Man Utd Subs not used: Graczyk, Murdock
Bookings: Ugarte 25 (foul on Andreas Pereira)
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson (C), Berge, Lukic (Reed 105), Traore (Smith Rowe 52), Pereira (Willian 90+2), Iwobi (R Sessegnan 107), Muniz (Jimenez 90+2)
Fulham Subs not used: Benda, Cairney, Cuenca, Diop
Bookings: Pereira 27 (dissent); Andersen 90+6 (foul on Joshua Zirkzee)
Referee: Stuart Attwell