Talking points from Old Trafford

Aleksandar Mitrovic gave the visitors the lead just after half-time, before a moment of madness led to a United penalty and three red cards for Fulham. 

Bruno Fernandes scored a brace and Marcel Sabitzer his first United goal in a memorable quarter-final clash in front of a buoyant Theatre of Dreams.

Here are the talking points from Sunday's game...

TEN HAG’S WEMBLEY REDS

For the second time this season, Ten Hag’s men are headed to Wembley. We’ve already featured there once during this campaign when we beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup to lift our first piece of silverware in six years. Now we’ll return to the capital – this time in the FA Cup – to face Brighton in the semi-final as we go in search of a second final in our first season with Ten Hag. 

FULHAM SEE RED

When Mitrovic gave Fulham the lead at Old Trafford just after half-time, Marco Silva’s side assumed control of the game. It was a tie that the Reds found difficult to make our mark on, but that would soon change in five minutes of madness from Sunday’s visitors. Jadon Sancho looked set to level the scores but for a block on the line by Willian. A VAR review adjudged that block to have been made using his hand, deliberately, resulting in a penalty and a red card for the Brazilian. Team-mate Mitrovic confronted the referee, earning his own red card – the double sending-off followed the red shown to Silva in the dugout, too. Fernandes showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty before Sabitzer scored seconds later to put us ahead in an unforgettable spell at the Theatre of Dreams.

SABITZER BREAKS HIS DUCK

In the midst of the madness, Sabitzer got a taste of what it is like to score at the Stretford End. The midfielder, who is on loan with us from Bayern Munich, netted his maiden goal for the club – and it was a lovely one, too. Great build-up play from Sancho saw him time his pass to Shaw perfectly before our no.23 put it on a plate for his team-mate. Sabitzer had to improvise slightly, but his brilliant flick lifted the ball over Bernd Leno to put us in the lead. VAR threatened to rob the Austrian of his first United goal with a possible offside, but after a check, the goal stood. 

BRUNO AT THE DOUBLE

Bruno, Bruno, Bruno – it’s a song we hear ring around Old Trafford every single home game, and today our no.8 responded with a brace of his own. He sealed the deal for the Reds in stoppage time with a lashing effort to make it 3-1, but his first was arguably the most impressive. Despite it being from the penalty spot, Fernandes kept his calm in the midst of chaos to step up and send Leno the wrong way, bringing us right back into the game following another impressive performance.

MARTINEZ BRILLIANCE

There is no denying that Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Fulham was a difficult game – up until the 72nd minute-mark, at least. The visitors set up extremely well, but Lisandro Martinez showed his class during the 90. Our no.6 is one of the most comfortable defenders on the ball, pinging balls up the pitch with inch-perfect precision. He is equally impressive in his reading of the game and notices danger before it unfolds, acting on it efficiently.

A REPEAT SCORELINE

Bruno's last-gasp third ensured we have now won all four FA Cup outings this season by the same scoreline, 3-1. Everton, Reading, West Ham and now Fulham have all been vanquished and we'd love the run to keep going, as we now look ahead to that Brighton semi.