FA Cup holders Manchester United crashed out of the competition on penalties following a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
Nothing could separate the sides following extra time in a game that offered little quality from either team.
Fulham took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Calvin Bassey nodded in from a corner after some slack United defending.
Bruno Fernandes hauled his side level in the second half, guiding in a superb effort to equalise for the hosts after meeting a low Diogo Dalot delivery from the left.
The holders did have chances to win the game through substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi, but visiting goalkeeper Bernd Leno made a couple of vital stops to keep his side in it.
Here are our five talking points from a disappointing evening at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes steps up in the face of criticism
The Portuguese playmaker so often gets United out of jail, and he did so again in the second half with time running out for his team.
Fernandes was the subject of intense criticism in the week from legendary former captain Roy Keane – with many feeling this scrutiny was unwarranted and way over the top.
The 30-year-old former Sporting skipper answered back in the best possible way, making it two goals and two assists in his last five games.
Fernandes’ overall tally for this current campaign now stands at 10 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, and it is a frightening prospect to imagine where this team would be without their talisman.
Set-piece frailties are still a major concern
United have been dire when defending set pieces this season and proven to be particularly bad at corner kicks.
Frustratingly, this frailty was on show again as the hosts fell asleep in first-half stoppage time to allow Bassey the simplest of headers.
Each time former United man Andreas Pereira swung in a delivery, the home side’s defence looked nervous and uneasy. The Reds have now conceded 13 goals from corners across all competitions – a damning statistic.
We have got to see improvements soon!
Chido Obi does well on his Old Trafford senior bow
17-year-old striker Chido Obi was introduced after 68 minutes when he replaced fellow countryman Rasmus Hojlund in a like-for-like substitution.
The talented youngster was not overawed in front of the 73,000+ spectators inside the Theatre of Dreams, injecting energy into a weary attack.
Despite the obvious pressures, he showed some nice movement in and around the box, linking well with Joshua Zirkzee, and he was unlucky not to score, having been denied by Leno.
The former Arsenal youth star is a name to watch out for in the future, but he will also be hungry for more opportunities to stake a claim in the here and now.
Penalty heartbreak for Amorim’s men
It was a cruel way for last year’s winners to exit the competition – losing 4-3 on spot-kicks in front of the Stretford End.
Victor Lindelof and Zirkzee were the unlucky duo to have their penalties saved – with Leno proving the undeniable hero for Fulham.
Penalty shoot-outs are always a lottery, and as Amorim’s men found out in the third round against Arsenal, there is a thin line between agony and ecstasy.
Unfortunately, United came out on the wrong side of it this time around.
Rasmus Hojlund’s goal drought continues
It is 18 games since Hojlund last found the net for the record English champions.
The young centre-forward seems to be enduring a crisis of confidence with things failing to go his way once more against Marco Silva’s troops.
Having arrived in Manchester from Serie A side Atalanta in July of 2023, he showed plenty of potential, with his speed and tenacity highlighted as a standout feature of his maiden campaign.
Some of that early promise has given way to struggle as his chances in front of goal have become increasingly limited, and, in turn, his confidence has seemingly deserted him.
Amorim stated last week that his team needs to do more to feed the Copenhagen native and help him get more opportunities to score, and this is certainly true.
But Hojlund also needs to do more himself, and maybe just going back to basics for now will help his game going forward. He is still young enough to get back on track and fulfil that early potential.
However, he won’t have unlimited time to do so at Old Trafford.
What did you think of Manchester United’s disappointing Cup exit at the hands of Fulham? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
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