Manchester United reach FA Cup semi-finals after Fulham self destruct

Manchester United are through to the FA Cup semi-finals after securing a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But it was a far from convincing performance from Erik ten Hag's side who were a goal down and being outplayed by their opponents until Fulham's Willian blocked a goal-bound Jadon Sancho shot with his arm in the 72nd minute.

The Brazilian was then sent-off after a VAR review – as was Fulham manager Marco Silva who tried to intervene as referee Chris Kavanagh was heading to the pitchside monitor – and a penalty awarded.

Fulham goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic was then also shown a red card for arguing and pushing the referee as Fulham pressed the self-destruct button in spectacular fashion.

United midfielder Bruno Fernandes kept his cool to level from the spot before Marcel Sabitzer made it 2-1 minutes later. Fernandes scored again deep into injury-time to seal a last-four clash against Brighton.

It was a very harsh scoreline on Fulham, who were made to pay dearly for five minutes of madness.

“Let's talk about all the game and not just one moment,” said Silva after the match, “Until the penalty moment and the red cards we were clearly the best team on the pitch.

“We were the best team on the pitch, clearly. For me it was a decision the VAR can take. What is difficult to understand is why the two moments in the box in the first half one of them is a clear penalty and nobody checks, nobody sees.”

The absence of the suspended Casemiro and Fred – among the substitutes as Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer started – told, as perhaps did United's relentless schedule across four fronts this season as the hosts laboured against a Fulham side showing plenty of bite with Joao Palhinha back from a ban.

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