Leno the hero as Fulham knockout FA Cup holders Man Utd on penalties
HERO: Bernd Leno saved penalties from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee in the shootout
between Fulham and Manchester United. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
RUBEN Amorim’s FA Cup holders Manchester United crashed out of the competition after Fulham keeper Bernd Leno made penalty shoot-out saves that denied Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee.
Goals from Calvin Bassey and Bruno Fernandes had left the fifth round tie all square after the 90 minutes, and additional 30.
But a disappointing contest made way for the drama of spot kicks. With the score tied at 3-3, Lindelof, who was making just his second appearance of the year after a lengthy spell injured, saw his effort well saved.
And, after Antonee Robinson had made it 4-3 to Fulham, a poor effort from Zirkzee was also kept out - and winning manager Marco Silva finally had his Old Trafford revenge.
Two years ago, Silva and Fulham were involved in a stormy quarter-final tie at Old Trafford, with the manager and two of his players sent off as United turned around a one-goal deficit to win 3-1.
It was a defeat that still rankles with the Portuguese coach, who has been desperate to improve his club’s terrible record in domestic cups - the 1975 FA Cup Final defeat to West Ham the only one in their history.
But it was an impressive victory two years on, started when a drab first half was entering its final few seconds of added time when Fernandes conceded a corner which he hotly disputed - as he does every decision.
Fortunate or not, Fulham made the resulting corner count as Andreas Pereira’s excellent delivery picked out Rodrigo Munoz who glanced towards the far post and Bassey.
With Noussair Mazraoui slow to respond, the Fulham defender connected with a strong, close-range header which Andre Onana could only palm into the corner of his net.
It was another example of terrible defending by the hosts, who have made a habit of conceding from set-pieces this season, although it at least gave the neutrals a moment of excitement.
There had been precious little before then, although Fulham probably wasted the previous best chance of the half when Alex Iwobi picked out unmarked Sasa Lukic in the middle and he headed wide from ten yards.
An early powerful shot from Fernandes had been well held by Bernd Leno, and the Fulham keeper also showed alertness to punch clear a later Christian Eriksen shot.
But there was little other threat from a United side for whom the FA Cup represented the last chance of success in a dispiriting season.
Amorim had dropped Alejandro Garnacho to the bench, after the exciting winger angered his manager by storming down the tunnel after being substituted in the midweek win over Ipswich.
And it seemed only a matter of time before Amorim would turn to him, with the youngster starting the second half warming up vigorously on the touchline before coming on after 53 minutes.
He was soon involved in a move which ended with Diogo Dalot crossing for Mazraoui whose meek header bounced before being easily scooped up by Leno. Fernandes produced a better effort, just after the hour, from 25 yards although, again, Leno made a fairly routine stop as he dived to his left.
Instead, the anxiety around Old Trafford increased when Fulham substitute Emile Smith Rowe almost scored a second, with a fierce low shot from the edge of the area, which Onana just about kept out at the foot of his post.
Amorim replaced the ineffective Rasmus Hojlund, without a goal in his last 18 games, in favour of youngster Chido Obi and, within minutes, Fernandes had claimed a 71st minute equaliser.
Dalot ended a left wing run by picking out his team mate, who had found a pocket of space just inside the area and swivelled to punish Fulham with a superb shot into the bottom corner.
Smith Rowe threatened again, deep in time added to the 90, with a low shot which Onana turned away efficiently before the tie headed towards extra time. And with virtually the last kick, Leno saved well to keep out a Garnacho shot after he was sent clear by Joshua Zirkzee.
In the second period of extra-time, subs Obi and Ryan Sessegnon came close, drawing good saves from the respective keepers, before the drama of the shoot-out.
Onana 6; de Ligt 7, Maguire 7 (Heaven 90, 5), Yoro 6 (Lindelof 53, 5); Mazraoui 5, Ugarte 7 (Garnacho 53, 7), Fernandes 8, Dalot 6; Zirkzee 7, Eriksen 5 (Casemiro 68, 6); Hojlund 5 (Obi 68, 5). Substitutes (not used) Graczyk, Murdock.
Leno 7; Castagne 6, Andersen 5, Bassey 8, Robinson 6; Lukic 6 (Reed 100, 5), Berge 6; Traore 6 (Smith Rowe 52, 6), Pereira 6 (Willian 90, 5), Iwobi 7 (Sessegnon 107, 5); Muniz 6 (Jimenez 90, 5). Substitutes (not used) Benda, Cairney, Cuenca, Diop.
S Attwell 6
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