Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey continued his impressive form, scoring for Fulham as they edged defending champions Manchester United in a penalty shootout, securing a vital win in their FA Cup showdown on Sunday.
In an attempt to ensure qualification for the next round, Fulham head coach, Marco Silva handed Calvin Bassey his first FA Cup start this season, while Alex Iwobi made his second start in the competition, after playing 66 minutes in the third round FA Cup win against Watford.
Fulham dominated the first half, controlling possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. However, they finally broke through just before halftime when Calvin Bassey headed home Andreas Pereira’s corner kick, via a flick from Rodrigo Muniz.
Trailing at halftime, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim made four changes in the second half, introducing fresh legs in an attempt to turn the game around. The substitutions eventually paid off as Bruno Fernandes equalized with 20 minutes remaining, converting Diogo Dalot’s low cross with a sublime first-time finish.
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After conceding the equalizer, Fulham increased their intensity, enjoying a strong spell of possession. Nonetheless, they were unable to capitalize on their dominance, failing to create big chances as Manchester United’s defense held firm. With neither side able to score a winner in regular time, the match headed into extra time, setting up an additional 30 minutes of intriguing football.
The first half of extra time saw Fulham maintain their grip on possession, but it was Manchester United who came close to scoring when Chido Obi-Martin was denied by Bernd Leno’s superb save.
In the second period of extra time, Ryan Sessegnon replaced Alex Iwobi and almost immediately had a chance to win the game, but was denied by Andre Onana’s save. With neither side able to find a winner, the match ultimately went to a penalty shootout.
Fulham’s Bernd Leno emerged as the hero in the penalty shootout, making two crucial saves from Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee to send the Cottagers into the next round where they will face Crystal Palace.
The victory keeps Fulham’s hopes of winning their first major trophy alive, but for now, their focus shifts to the Premier League, where they aim to secure European qualification. Their next challenge is an away fixture against Brighton on Saturday, March 8.
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