FA Cup fifth-round draw pits Plymouth against Man City, while United host Fulham after a var-free controversy
The FA Cup fifth-round draw has delivered a thrilling set of fixtures, with reigning champions Manchester United hosting Fulham and Plymouth’s giant-killing heroes heading into a brutal battle against Manchester City.
Plymouth stunned the football world on Sunday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Premier League leaders Liverpool, knocking them out thanks to Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty. Their reward? A daunting last-16 showdown at the Etihad against the seven-time FA Cup winners. With City surviving an early scare to beat Leyton Orient 2-1, Pep Guardiola’s men will be ready to crush any dreams of another upset.
Meanwhile, United’s path to the fifth round wasn’t without controversy. Their 2-1 win over Leicester was overshadowed by Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header, which appeared to come from an offside position. Without VAR in play, the decision stood, leaving Leicester fuming. The technology will return in the next round—just in time for United’s clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.
Embed from Getty ImagesElsewhere, Bournemouth will host Wolves after a confident 2-0 win over Everton, while Brighton, fresh from a stunning comeback against Chelsea, face a brutal away trip to Carabao Cup finalists Newcastle.
Cardiff, who scraped past Stoke on penalties, now face Aston Villa—who survived a Tottenham fightback to secure a 2-1 victory. London will also witness a fiery derby as Crystal Palace host Millwall.
The final tie sees Preston face Burnley in an all-Championship showdown, while the winners of Exeter vs Nottingham Forest will play Ipswich.
All matches are scheduled for the first weekend of March, setting the stage for more FA Cup drama.
