National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
Manchester United’s FA Cup title defense came to an abrupt end on Sunday, March 2, 2025, as they suffered a shocking penalty shootout defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Fulham holding their nerve to progress to the quarter-finals.
Fulham took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Calvin Bassey headed home from Andreas Pereira’s corner after Rodrigo Muniz flicked it on.
Bruno Fernandes rescued United with a brilliant equalizer in the second half, converting Diogo Dalot’s cross with a first-time finish.
Despite chances for both sides, the match remained level after extra time, leading to a penalty shootout.
Fulham’s Bernd Leno proved to be the hero, saving two penalties to secure a 4-3 win in the shootout.
The loss marks a significant setback for Manchester United, who were seeking to defend their FA Cup title.
Fulham, on the other hand, advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Crystal Palace.
Manchester United’s focus will now shift to the Europa League, where they will face Real Sociedad on Thursday.
