Fulham upset holders United in FA Cup fifth round shootout

MANCHESTER, England - Fulham keeper Bernd Leno saved two penalties as they beat FA Cup holders Manchester United 4-3 in a shootout to secure their spot in the quarter-finals after March 2’s dramatic fifth-round tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time.

The match went to penalties after United’s Bruno Fernandes grabbed a second-half leveller following Calvin Bassey’s opener for Fulham in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

After a goalless extra time, Leno saved Victor Lindelof’s penalty, leaving United’s Joshua Zirkzee needing to bury his to keep their hopes alive. Yet he fired his effort straight at Leno sparking wild Fulham celebrations.

Raul Jimenez, Sander Berge, Willian and Antonee Robinson converted their penalties for Fulham, who will face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.

Fulham caught United’s defence flat-footed from Andreas Pereira’s corner to strike first blood seconds before halftime, with Rodrigo Muniz nodding on for Bassey to head home in his first FA Cup appearance.

Fernandes levelled in the 71st minute when Diogo Dalot cut it back from the left-hand side and United’s skipper unleashed a left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box that sailed past two Fulham defenders and goalkeeper Leno on its way into the far corner to send the game into extra time.

“Unbelievable,” a smiling Leno told the BBC. “I think we deserved to win after 90 minutes. Of course, penalties, it is sometimes a lottery and luckily we won. The goalie coach told me information, but my feeling is more important.

“I went the wrong way three times, but credit to our penalty takers - it is not easy. Brilliant job from all of us.”

Thirteen-times FA Cup winners United defeated Manchester City last year and lost to City in the 2023 final.

But Ruben Amorim’s men have struggled