Brighton’s Late Surge at St James’ Park
At St James’ Park, Brighton found a hero in Danny Welbeck, whose extra-time strike sealed a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. The match was a roller-coaster, with Newcastle initially taking the lead through Alexander Isak’s penalty. However, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh equalized before halftime, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The game took a chaotic turn when Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon received a red card for violent conduct, followed by Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey’s dismissal for a second booking. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Brighton’s resilience paid off with Welbeck’s late winner.
Football analyst Gary Lineker tweeted, “What a performance by Brighton! Welbeck’s goal was a testament to their relentless spirit.”
Fulham’s Penalty Shootout Triumph at Old Trafford
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Fulham and Manchester United battled fiercely in a match that ended 1-1, with Fulham eventually triumphing 4-2 in a penalty shootout. Calvin Bassey’s goal and Bruno Fernandes’ equalizer had kept the match level through regular time and goalless extra time.
The shootout was marked by Bernd Leno’s crucial save against Victor Lindelof, while Fulham’s penalty takers—Raul Jimenez, Sander Berge, Willian, and Antonee Robinson—converted with precision.
Fulham’s goalkeeper, Leno, expressed his excitement to the BBC: “Unbelievable. Penalties are always a lottery, but we came prepared.”
According to OptaJoe, Fulham’s triumph marked their first FA Cup quarter-final appearance since 2017, a testament to their resurgence under manager Marco Silva.
Fulham, who last reached the FA Cup final in 1975, are set to face Crystal Palace in the next round. Fulham’s victory is a significant morale boost as they aim to return to Wembley. Meanwhile, Brighton’s victory continues their impressive FA Cup run, as they look to make a deep tournament push.
Both teams will now shift focus to their upcoming league commitments, with Fulham eyeing a potential European spot and Brighton consolidating their mid-table position.
