Manchester United’s troubled season reached a new nadir as the FA Cup holders suffered a crushing 4-3 defeat on penalties against Fulham in the fifth round on Sunday.
This latest setback at Old Trafford not only ended their defense of the trophy but also further exposed the deep-rooted struggles plaguing the club.
Despite battling back from an early deficit, Manchester United were unable to overcome Fulham’s resilience. Ruben Amorim’s side fell behind in the first half when Calvin Bassey capitalized on United’s frailties at set-pieces, heading home a flicked-on corner to put the visitors ahead just before the interval. The home crowd, already discontent, voiced their frustration as United trudged off at halftime to loud boos.
Bruno Fernandes momentarily lifted the gloom, equalizing in the 71st minute with a composed low strike into the far corner after meeting Diogo Dalot’s cross. The goal briefly injected hope into Manchester United’s faltering campaign, but the momentum failed to translate into a winner during extra time.
With the score locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, the tie was decided from the penalty spot. Manchester United crumbled under pressure as Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno emerged as the hero, saving spot-kicks from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee. Fulham, by contrast, converted all four of their penalties with clinical precision, sending Manchester United crashing out of the competition.
This latest humiliation continues a season of struggles for Manchester United, who sit a lowly 14th in the Premier League table. Having reached the FA Cup final in each of the last two seasons—defeating rivals Manchester City to lift the trophy last year—the club will not be making a return to Wembley this time. With domestic success now out of reach, their only remaining shot at silverware lies in the Europa League, where they travel to Real Sociedad for a last-16 first-leg clash on Thursday before facing Arsenal in the Premier League.
The frustration of Manchester United fans was palpable throughout the match, with chants directed at owners the Glazer family and minority investor Jim Ratcliffe. The dissatisfaction was further emphasized by banners protesting ticket price hikes, a reflection of growing unrest among the supporters.
While the pressure mounts on Amorim, his players continue to underperform. Rasmus Hojlund’s prolonged goal drought extended to 18 games after missing a first-half chance, while Alejandro Garnacho was initially left on the bench following a disciplinary issue. His introduction in the second half provided energy but little end product, highlighting Manchester United’s ongoing struggles.
With their FA Cup defense in ruins and their league campaign in tatters, Manchester United must now regroup quickly or risk further humiliation in the weeks ahead.