Manchester United’s turbulent season took another hit as they bowed out of the FA Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Fulham at Old Trafford.
Bernd Leno emerged as the hero, saving crucial spot-kicks from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee to secure Fulham’s place in the quarter-finals.
Zirkzee was left in tears after his miss sealed United’s fate, with Marco Silva’s men converting all four of their penalties.
Despite United’s struggles in the Premier League, the FA Cup had provided moments of fortune until now.
The match saw United dominate possession but struggle in attack. Fulham struck first in first-half injury time, with Calvin Bassey finishing off a well-executed set-piece.
United responded in the 71st minute through Bruno Fernandes, who drilled home a low shot to level the score.
Extra time saw frantic end-to-end action, with both sides squandering chances.
Alejandro Garnacho and teenage striker Chido Obi went close for United, while Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon tested Andre Onana.
However, neither team could find a breakthrough, leading to the decisive shootout.
With United now eliminated, their hopes of European qualification rest solely on the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Fulham, seeking their first FA Cup final in 50 years, march on, showing resilience that had eluded them in past knockout encounters.
