Manchester United reached the FA Cup semi-final in surreal circumstances, coming from behind to knock out a Fulham side that had two players and manager Marco Silva sent off.
Fulham had one of their worst days of the season last weekend in their 3-0 defeat to league leaders Arsenal. But against a United side missing a suspended Casemiro, they started well at Old Trafford. How they would fall in a moment of madness in the second half.
Willian started so well, playing on the left side but crawling into the middle of the field and connecting for Fulham. They were much the better side in the first half, thanks in large part to the return of Joao Palhinha after his two match suspension.
In the absence of Palhinha, they lost to Brentford and Arsenal. But he allowed midfield partner Harrison Reed – hampered by an early hamstring injury but eventually recovering – to bomb through. Fulham had energy and vitality and almost had a goal as veteran centre-back Tim Ream found himself on the left flank entering the corridor of uncertainty. It bypassed everyone. A glorious opportunity.
Antonee Robinson was sad against Arsenal last weekend, but put in a good shot for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who stayed in the air but headed over. Next, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno thrashed Marcus Rashford and then parried Marcel Sabitzer’s bustling effort.
Fulham started the second half as they had finished the first. Five minutes after the restart – by which time Willian had tested David De Gea twice – Silva’s side were ahead when Mitrovic crossed from a corner. It ended a nine-game goal drought stretching back to January 3. It made the Fulham supporters who had made the long journey to Old Trafford dream of their first FA Cup semi-final since 2002.
United clung on – perhaps a sign that their remarkable number of games this season had caught up with them. De Gea clawed away Mitrovic’s header for a miraculous save. It kept United in the cup competition. And then they were gone, on the other side.
Antony countered, squared for Jadon Sancho – and Sancho outplayed Leno and only had to put him in the net. Willian blocked on the line, but was it with his hand or his thigh? It was hard to say, but referee Chris Kavanagh consulted VAR and awarded a penalty.
Willian had to go because of his proximity to the target. Kavanagh duly dismissed him. Then all hell broke loose. Mitrovic appeared to be pushing Kavanagh, leaving the official with no choice but to send the hot-headed Serb off as well. Suddenly Fulham had only nine men left.
Manager Silva’s own emotions seemed to get the better of him and his protests also earned him a red card. Fulham had lost; their lead, their composure and the game. Silva spent the remainder of the game pacing through the tunnel, as his team’s carcass lost the lead and lost the game.
Bruno Fernandes shot in the penalty and brought in the 1-1. Then Luke Shaw reached the byline and put in for Marcel Sabitzer to deftly hook back into the net for his first United goal. Two in two minutes and with 13 minutes to play it was already reasonable to conclude that Fulham were a defeated side.
It was a great shame for their fans that their big day out ended in such disgraceful circumstances, and things got worse rather than better when substitute Fred put the ball to Fernandes, who fired deep into the corner in stoppage time.
Ten Hag’s side are the only team left in the top five European leagues that are still active four times. One from Arsenal or Manchester City will of course prevent them from winning all four competitions, but they can at least add the FA Cup and Europa League to the EFL Cup they won last month.
United plows on. Fulham floundered him ridiculously. It was class that took them to this first FA Cup quarter-final since 2010. It was sheer stupidity that kept them from moving forward.