Bernd Leno is Fulham’s shootout hero as Manchester United exit FA Cup | FA Cup

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.

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 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