Julius OkorieSuper Eagles duo of Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, were in superb form on Sunday as Fulham sent holders, Manchester United packing from the FA Cup.
Bassey shot Fulham into the lead in the closing minutes of the first half, and it took host, Manchester United, another 26 minutes to find an equaliser, thanks to Bruno Fernandes.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThat was however the limit the Reds and current holders of the FA Cup could go, as resultant penalty shootout after extra time, saw the visitors run away with a well-deserved 4-3 win.
Fulham successfully converted four out of five penalty kicks, while the Old Trafford landlords, missed the last back to back kicks by Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee to hit the exit doors.
With the tie level at 1-1 after extra-time, Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee, saw their penalties saved by Bernd Leno.
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Fulham played the better football throughout an entertaining tie but United came closest to finding the winner in extra-time when 17-year-old forward, Chido Obi, was denied by a spectacular Leno save from close range.
Obi came even closer in extra-time and when the tie went to penalties, United converted their first three from the spot in front of the Stretford End to raise hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
But Lindelof and Zirkzee’s efforts were saved either side of Antonee Robinson’s cool finish to see Marco Silva’s side progress without even needing to take their fifth kick. Fulham go into a home tie against Crystal Palace dreaming of that first-ever FA Cup win.
While Bassey was in action for the entire duration of the match, Compatriot, Alex Iwobi, saw 107 minutes action.
Man United exit has however pitched coach Ruben Amorin against the Club’s former talisman, Wayne Rooney.
Speaking to the BBC, Ruben Amorim said that the goal is for Manchester United to win the Premier League. But the club’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, doing punditry for the BBC, later responded, saying: “I think it’s a little bit naive to say, ‘We’re looking to win the Premier League’, because, from where they are now, they are a long way off that.”
Asked in the press conference to respond to that accusation of naivety from Rooney, Amorim defended his comments.
“Being naive is to think that we are going to do this season or are going to be the best contender for the next season. I know that in this moment everybody knows everything. I was a pundit when I finished my career. I know it is really easy.
“Our goal is to win the Premier League. Maybe it is not with me but our goal as a club, the board, is winning the Premier League like we did in the past with all the great glories and the legends of this club.
“We want to do better and we know that we are in a difficult moment. And I am not naive. That is why I am here coaching Manchester United at 40 years old.”
The FA Cup salvaged something from the season for Erik ten Hag last time around with that memorable victory over Manchester City at Wembley.
Quarterfinal Fixtures
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Preston v Aston Villa
Bournmouth v Manchester City
Brighton v Nothingham Forest/Ipswich
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
