Manchester United came from behind to beat Fulham 3-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals in an incident-packed game at Old Trafford. Aleksandar Mitrovic put Fulham ahead early in the second half after converting from close range following Issa Diop’s flick-on from a corner. However, the match changed when Antony Martial’s run led to Jadon Sancho’s shot being blocked by Willian’s hand on the goal line. Referee Chris Kavanagh consulted the VAR, awarded a penalty and showed Willian a red card. Fulham manager Marco Silva was then sent off for his reaction to the decision, before Mitrovic received his second yellow card for dissent. Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty to level the scores before Marcel Sabitzer put United ahead. Fernandes scored a late third goal to secure a place in the semi-finals.
Roy Keane, who was a pundit for the game, claimed that Fulham had “self-destructed” with their reaction to the penalty decision. He said that “it was a mad 90 seconds that’s cost them the game.” Silva was sent off for something he said to the referee, while Mitrovic confronted and remonstrated with the official, leading to his dismissal. Keane was critical of Fulham’s conduct, saying that they “had an opportunity and they blew it.”
Fulham started the game well and deservedly took the lead through Mitrovic’s goal. They had other chances to extend their advantage but were unable to take them. United gradually came back into the game and the penalty incident was the turning point. Fulham’s reaction to the decision and subsequent dismissals meant that United had the upper hand in the closing stages, and they scored two more goals to seal the victory.
The win sees United reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the second consecutive season. They will face Chelsea in the next round. Fulham, meanwhile, will now focus on their battle against relegation from the Premier League. They are currently in the bottom three, and with just ten games remaining, they need to pick up points quickly if they are to avoid the drop. The manner of their defeat to United will have been a bitter pill to swallow, but they must now regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead.
