Fulham eliminates Manchester United from FA Cup on penalties

Manchester United's FA Cup title defense ended in a dramatic fifth-round clash against Fulham, where they lost 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. Fulham's goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee, allowing his team to advance to the quarter-finals against Crystal Palace. The match featured an intense back-and-forth, with Calvin Bassey opening the scoring for Fulham and Bruno Fernandes equalizing for United. Despite numerous opportunities for both sides, the encounter required penalties to determine the winner, marking a disappointing exit for United, who had been the winners in their last nine FA Cup ties against Fulham. This loss adds to United's struggles this season under Erik ten Hag, while Fulham looks forward to a potential major trophy under Marco Silva. The victory is particularly sweet for Silva, who faced a tumultuous exit during their previous FA Cup encounter two seasons ago.