Fulham beat Manchester United on penalties to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals.
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With two saves in the penalty shootout, Fulham goalie Bernd Leno emerged victorious, eliminating Manchester United from the FA Cup.
Leno stopped Victor Lindelof after three accurate spot kicks from both teams.
The German then stopped Joshua Zirkzee’s attempt to advance the Cottagers to the quarterfinals after captain Antonee Robinson had extended Fulham’s undefeated record.
Fulham had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time when Calvin Bassey was left free at the far post to head in from close range after Rodrigo Muniz had flicked on a corner.
However, the Portuguese pulled his team level with a fantastic equalizer, smashing home a low drive from the edge of the box after Diogo Dalot found him with a pass from the touchline, only days after former United captain Roy Keane had denounced the influence of current captain Bruno Fernandes.
Both sides could have won it without the need for penalties. Emile Smith-Rowe, denied superbly by Andre Onana before the home side leveled, was repelled by the Cameroon international again before the tie went to extra-time.
Then, 17-year-old United substitute Chido Obi flicked a shot towards goal that Leno kept out with an outstanding reaction save.
It added to a catalogue of saves from Leno that also included denying United substitute Alejandro Garnacho.
The real heroics were saved for the shootout though, as Fulham continue to dream of emulating their only FA Cup final appearance in 1975.
It is a remarkable fact that only one final has not featured any of the two Manchester teams—the two from Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, or Chelsea—since the Fulham team, which featured England World Cup star Bobby Moore, lost to West Ham at Wembley fifty years ago.
With only Manchester City of that group left in this year’s competition, there is a chance the unexpected nature of Portsmouth’s victory over Cardiff in 2008 could be repeated.
Fulham will certainly fancy their chances.
Silva has put together a talented and deep squad capable of giving anyone a game on their day.
That has tended not to be against United, who had already beaten them twice in the Premier League this season and had lost just one of their past 21 previous meetings.
On his occasion, though, they posed a bigger threat and ought to have taken the lead when Alex Iwobi found Sasa Lukic with a superb cross that should have had a better outcome than being fired over the bar.
For a long time, it appeared Bassey’s effort would prove decisive. And after Fernandes’ strike drew United level, Ryan Sessegnon brought an excellent save out of Onana in second-half stoppage time.
However, Leno made two accurate guesses after Raul Jimenez, Sander Berge, and Willian had kept Fulham tied in the shootout.
This was Fulham’s way of making amends for the agony they caused themselves two years prior, when they were leading and in control of a quarterfinal match against United at Old Trafford, only to collapse after a contentious penalty was given against them, resulting in three red cards—including one for Silva—and a final loss.