Calvin Bassey
By Emuobonuvie Ojeni
Super Eagles of Nigeria defender, Calvin Bassey was once again the hero for Fulham as his header on the stroke of half-time gave the Cottagers a crucial lead in their FA Cup fifth-round clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
This moment of brilliance not only broke the deadlock but also echoed Bassey’s remarkable performance against United last season in the Premier League.
With the match deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the game went into extra time, and despite both teams failing to produce a winner, the penalty shootout ultimately decided the outcome. Fulham kept their cool in the shootout, winning 4-3 and securing their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The match had been a tense affair, with United struggling to break down Fulham’s defense. Bruno Fernandes’ second-half equalizer, a superb finish from a Diogo Dalot cross, was the highlight of United’s response after Bassey’s header put the visitors ahead. Despite several late chances, including a fantastic save from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to deny United’s Chido Obi-Martins, neither team could find a winner in extra time, sending the match to penalties.
The first half had been evenly contested, with United dominating possession but failing to break Fulham’s resolve. Just as it seemed like both teams would go into the break goalless, Fulham stunned Old Trafford. In added time, Bassey lost his marker from a corner and rose to meet the cross with a perfectly timed header past United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
It was a familiar scene for Bassey, who had scored in Fulham’s Premier League game United last season. The goal gave Fulham a 1-0 lead heading into halftime, leaving United fans frustrated as they had struggled to find any real rhythm in the first 45 minutes.
The second half saw Manchester United come out with more intent. As the minutes ticked by, they finally found their equalizer in the 70th minute. Fernandes, who had been one of the few standout performers for United, made the most of a well-delivered cross from Dalot, finishing with precision past Leno to level the score at 1-1.
But despite dominating possession, United struggled to break Fulham’s defensive shape in the final stages of the game. Opportunities came and went, and as the match edged toward penalties, it became clear that the Red Devils would need to rely on spot-kicks to keep their hopes of defending the FA Cup alive.
Fulham eventually sealed a 4-2 penalty victory with goalkeeper Leno making two saves, sending them through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The result was a significant upset for United.
On the other hand,Alex Iwobi, his Nigerian compatriot, also put in a solid performance for Fulham. Both players are expected to be named in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
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