Leno's heroics in shootout send toothless holders out

As this FA Cup fifth-round penalty shootout reached its climax, Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee were the unfortunate players whose kicks were saved, ending Manchester United's trophy defence and sending Fulham through to the last eight.

- Jamie Jackson

The final shootout 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 penalty, after semi-final extra time against Brighton, taking Erik ten Hag's side to the showpiece, which they lost 2-1 against Manchester City.

In 2022-23 the Dutchman had already guided United to the Carabao Cup and followed that with their triumph in this competition last season.

But, if Ruben Amorim is to emulate his predecessor with a trophy in his first campaign, then it will have to be in the Europa League, in which he takes his beleaguered team to Real Sociedad for the last-16 opening leg on Thursday.

Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved Lindelöf's and Zirkzee's penalties and Marco Silva's side now stand two matches away from a Wembley tilt at a first major piece of silverware.

Leno said: "Unbelievable. I think we deserved to win after 90 minutes. Of course, penalties - it is sometimes a lottery and luckily we won. The goalie coach told me some information, but my feeling of where to dive is more important. I went the wrong way three times, but credit to our penalty takers - it is not easy.