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In a gripping FA Cup fifth-round encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Fulham fought to a tense 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, with Fulham eventually prevailing in a penalty shootout.
Manchester United vs Fulham: Disappointing first half for both teams
The match was characterized by sub-par performances from both teams, resulting in a lack of quality and few chances on goal. Manchester United came closest to opening the scoring in the first half, with Rasmus Højlund sending an effort wide and Christian Eriksen forcing a save from Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno. However, it was Fulham who broke the deadlock just before the interval.
Fulham take the lead through set piece
Once again, Manchester United’s vulnerability to set pieces came to the forefront. Andreas Pereira’s corner kick found Rodrigo Muniz, who flicked the ball onto Calvin Bassey. Bassey rose highest to head the ball past United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana, putting Fulham 1-0 ahead right at the end of the first half.
Manchester United respond with equalizer
Manchester United needed a response in the second half, and after a sluggish 20 minutes, they found their equalizer through a well-timed substitution. Alejandro Garnacho was introduced to the game and made an immediate impact, providing the assist for Diogo Dalot. Dalot pulled the ball back for Bruno Fernandes, who calmly finished to level the score at 1-1 in the 71st minute.
Penalties seal Fulham's victory
With no further goals in the remaining time, the tie was decided by a penalty shootout. Bernd Leno, who had already been solid throughout the match, became the hero for Fulham. He saved two crucial penalties, helping his team win the shootout 4-3 and secure their spot in the next round.
The match, despite its lack of excitement during open play, ended with Fulham’s dramatic progression, sending Manchester United out of the competition in a nail-biting penalty finish.
Nottingham Forest are due to take on Ipswich Town as the winner will seal their place in the quarter finals. The teams which have already reached the quarter finals include Brighton, Preston, Aston Villa, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Manchester City.
