Manchester United punished 5 minutes of insanity from Fulham to guide their place within the FA Cup semi-finals as they got here from behind to win 3-1 at Old Trafford.
Fulham had been full worth for the lead that Aleksandr Mitrovic gave them 5 minutes into the second half, however the wheels got here off with round 20 minutes left as supervisor Marco Silva, Willian and Mitrovic had been all despatched off.
It got here after a Fulham nook turned a United assault, with substitute Antony racing down the proper and squaring for Jadon Sancho. He rounded Bernd Leno however noticed his shot blocked on the road by Willian’s hand.
Chris Kavanagh signalled for a nook however was despatched to the monitor by VAR Neil Swarbrick, and paused to ship off Silva for dissent earlier than he had even reached the display screen.
The inevitable penalty determination and a crimson for Willian then got here, however Fulham’s whole lack of self-discipline was seen as Mitrovic raged at Kavanagh to earn his personal early bathe.
Bruno Fernandes despatched Leno the incorrect means from the penalty spot and two minutes later United led as Marcel Sabitzer flicked house Luke Shaw’s low cross for his first United aim.
Fernandes then lashed in United’s third in stoppage time as nine-man Fulham had been overrun.
Twelve-time Cup winners United advance to face Brighton at Wembley whereas Fulham will depend the price of a day that may absolutely harm their push for Europe through the Premier League with suspensions to comply with.
It was a dramatic turnaround in a recreation during which Fulham had been the higher workforce for many of the afternoon.
The absence of the suspended Casemiro and Fred – among the many substitutes as Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer began – instructed, as maybe did United’s relentless schedule throughout 4 fronts this season because the hosts laboured towards a Fulham facet displaying loads of chunk with Joao Palhinha again from a ban.
Early strain noticed David De Gea push Issa Diop’s looping header over, whereas Mitrovic needed a penalty – and United defenders a yellow for diving – when he tangled with Lisandro Martinez within the field.
In between Willian fired narrowly extensive and Tim Ream despatched in a cross which might have solely wanted a slight contact to seek out the online.
United didn’t come to life till the ultimate quarter-hour of the half after Marcus Rashford switched to the left and Sancho the proper, however Leno foiled each Rashford and Sabitzer, whereas Wout Weghorst’s shot was deflected extensive by Ream in first-half stoppage time.
The second half noticed Fulham retake the initiative. Antonee Robinson’s curling shot was tipped over by De Gea, forcing the primary of three corners which culminated in Mitrovic firing house after Diop flicked on Andreas Pereira’s supply.
Fernandes fired extensive from a Rashford cross earlier than Ten Hag despatched on Antony for McTominay, and the Brazilian was key to the Fulham meltdown that adopted.
Antony virtually added a 3rd as he danced his means in the direction of aim three minutes from time, however though he obtained across the keeper he was off steadiness earlier than the ball was whipped away.
But Fernandes added the ultimate flourish in stoppage time, lashing house a robust strike to ship United into the semi-finals for the primary time since 2020.
