In the squeaky posterior time of this FA Cup fifth-round penalty shootout Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee were the unfortunate ones who missed the kicks that ended Manchester United’s FA Cup defence and sent Fulham through.
Related: Manchester United v Fulham: FA Cup fifth-round tie goes to extra time – live
The final spot-kick score was 4-3 to the visitors who, marginally, deserved their passage, though this was a slog through 120 minutes of meagre fare that was no advertisement for the world’s oldest knockout competition.
Two years ago Lindelöf was United’s hero, with his spot-kick, after semi-final extra time against Brighton, taking Erik ten Hag’s side to the showpiece, which they lost 2-1 to Manchester City.
In 2022-23 the Dutchman had already guided United to the Carabao Cup and followed that with last season’s triumph in this competition. But, if Ruben Amorim is to emulate his predecessor with a trophy in a first campaign, then it will have to be in the Europa League, in which he takes his beleaguered team to Real Sociedad for Thursday’s last-16 opening leg.
Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved both Lindelöf’s and Zirkzee’s penalties and Marco Silva’s side now stand a quarter-final and semi-final away from a Wembley tilt at a first major piece of silverware.
United were the same old sorry tale: a liability at the back and toothless in the final third.
Fulham had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time when Calvin Bassey headed in from close range after Rodrigo Muniz had flicked on a corner, but Bruno Fernandes equalised with a superb shot from the edge of the area in the 71st minute.
• Jamie Jackson’s full match report to follow
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