Manchester United’s dire season reached a new low as the FA Cup holders were eliminated following a 4-3 penalty shoot-out loss to Fulham in the fifth round on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim’s team fell behind to Calvin Bassey’s first-half goal at Old Trafford, but Bruno Fernandes found an equaliser, leading the match to finish 1-1 after extra time.
Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, emerged as the hero in the shoot-out, saving penalties from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee while the visitors successfully converted all four of their attempts.
There were boos ringing out as United left the pitch at half-time, marking yet another disappointing result for a team that currently sits in 14th place in the Premier League.
The 13-time FA Cup winners had reached the final in the past two seasons, clinching the trophy by beating Manchester City last year.
However, a trip to Wembley is not on the cards for United this season, with their only remaining opportunity for silverware lying in the Europa League.
It’s been a challenging week at Old Trafford, highlighted by the announcement of 200 job cuts, alongside struggles to draw with Everton and scrape past lowly Ipswich.
Amorim acknowledged that things are “tough” for United, marking yet another setback for the embattled Portuguese manager, who only took over in November after Erik ten Hag was sacked.
Next up, United will travel to Real Sociedad for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, before returning home to face Arsenal in the Premier League.
It didn’t take long for Amorim to sense that United were in for a lacklustre afternoon.
Rasmus Hojlund shot over from a tight angle after receiving a cross from Christian Eriksen, with the much-criticised striker now on an 18-game goal drought.
Eriksen’s curling effort was well saved by Leno, yet this barely pacified fans who have become increasingly frustrated with the club’s extended underperformance.
Chants directed at United owners the Glazer family and Jim Ratcliffe echoed through the stands during the first half, accompanied by banners protesting against rising ticket prices.
Fulham posed their first threat when Sasa Lukic headed over from Alex Iwobi’s cross.
This was a warning that United failed to heed as Fulham took the lead with their first shot on target just moments before half-time.
United’s vulnerability at set-pieces was laid bare as Andreas Pereira’s corner was flicked on by Rodrigo Muniz, allowing Bassey to react faster than Noussair Mazraoui to nod in from close range.
Amorim kept Alejandro Garnacho on the bench for the opening 53 minutes following the winger’s sulky reaction to being substituted against Ipswich.
The 20-year-old had stormed off down the tunnel in a moment that Amorim stated had been resolved after Garnacho promised to take his teammates out for dinner.
Eventually, Amorim had to call on Garnacho as United fell behind, his introduction sparking a roar from the home crowd, but failing to change the match’s dynamic.
United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, had to dive to his right to prevent Emile Smith Rowe from extending Fulham’s lead.
Once again this season, United captain Fernandes briefly masked the flaws within the team.
Fernandes levelled the match in the 71st minute, capitalising on Diogo Dalot’s cross with a fine low shot into the far corner from 12 yards out.
Nonetheless, despite having come back from behind against Ipswich and drawing with Everton, this time there was to be no great escape.
Onana thwarted Smith Rowe in stoppage time, leading to a tense extra-time period that produced few chances until Chido Obi nearly squeezed a shot past Leno.
Ryan Sessegnon came close with a fierce shot that Onana managed to parry away, but United’s fate was ultimately sealed in a harrowing shoot-out.
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