By Samuel A. March 2, 2025
Last season’s FA Cup champions Manchester United have been knocked out of the competition this season after a penalty shootout defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford. With the match level at 1-1 after extra time, the game went to penalties, where Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed their penalties courtesy of good saves by Bernd Leno who was superb on Sunday afternoon as United were beaten 4-3 from the spot.
Fulham played better football throughout an entertaining tie, but United came closest to finding the winner in extra time when former Arsenal 17 year old wonderkid Chido Obi was denied by a spectacular Leno save from close range.
Earlier, Calvin Bassey had nodded Fulham in front in first half stoppage time when he made second contact with Andreas Pereira’s right wing corner after Muniz’s flick on, and United looked set to relinquish the trophy with a whimper until Bruno Fernandes’ intervention in the 71st minute. The captain swept home with his weaker left foot to convert Diogo Dalot’s low cross and that set the game up for a dramatic finish. Emile Smith Rowe and Alejandro Garnacho both had chances to find the winner in normal time, and Obi Martin was close too.
He [Obi] came even closer in extra time, prompting a great Bernd Leno save, and when the tie went to penalties, United converted their first three from the spot in front of the Stretford End to raise hopes of progressing to the quarter finals for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
However, Lindelof and Zirkzee’s efforts were saved either side consecutively, and they didn’t need to take their 5th penalty to progress. Fulham go into a home tie against Crystal Palace dreaming of that first ever FA Cup win.
