Leno’s Heroics Dump Man United Out of FA Cup

Manchester United’s FA Cup run came to an agonising end at Old Trafford as Fulham pulled off a dramatic shootout victory.

March 2, 2025
9:44 pm

Manchester United’s FA Cup run ended in heartbreak at Old Trafford as Fulham triumphed in a nail-biting penalty shootout, with Bernd Leno stealing the show on a tense night.

The German keeper saved penalties from both Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee, clinching a 4-3 shootout win after a thrilling 1-1 draw that kept everyone on the edge of their seats through extra time. Marco Silva’s team now moves on to the quarter-finals, where they’ll face Crystal Palace at home.

For United, this loss stings as they wrap up their cup journey under Ruben Amorim, who now follows Erik ten Hag in falling short despite hopes for a trophy.

Fulham’s victory was sweet, especially after their infamous meltdown at this same ground two years ago, when Silva, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Willian were all sent off. This time, they left Manchester celebrating a memorable win in front of their excited fans.

The night started with fan protests against the club’s ownership, with banners criticizing the Glazers for raising ticket prices mid-season. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much for the home crowd to cheer about as United struggled for most of the match.

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After a bright start, Fulham found their rhythm and struck first. In first-half stoppage time, Rodrigo Muniz flicked on an Andreas Pereira corner, and Calvin Bassey snuck in at the back post to score, sending the traveling fans into a frenzy.

United, looking flat for long stretches, finally found some magic in the 71st minute. Diogo Dalot’s cutback from the left found Bruno Fernandes, who fired a first-time shot past Leno, silencing his critics and leveling the score.

Both teams had chances after that. Fulham’s Muniz was denied, while Onana saved a shot from Emile Smith Rowe. Young substitute Chido Obi looked sharp for United, forcing a great save from Leno, but extra time saw missed opportunities for Garnacho and Casemiro.

Then came the penalties, where Leno shone. After both teams started strong, Lindelöf faltered first, with his shot saved. Robinson scored, putting pressure on United, and when Zirkzee’s weak attempt was also saved, Fulham’s celebrations kicked off.

It was another tough night for United, who now need to focus on salvaging pride in the league. For Fulham, it was a moment of redemption, conquering their Old Trafford demons and taking another step toward cup glory.