Super Eagles trio Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey have been eliminated from the FA Cup after Fulham F.C. suffered a 1–0 defeat to Southampton F.C. in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
The Premier League side were stunned at Craven Cottage as a late penalty from Southampton striker Ross Stewart sealed the visitors’ place in the quarter-finals.
The defeat means Fulham’s hopes of ending their long wait for a first FA Cup title are over for another season.
The London club have never won the competition, with their best performance remaining a runners-up finish in 1975.
Iwobi had previously lifted the FA Cup with Arsenal F.C. in 2017, but his Nigerian teammates Bassey and Chukwueze will have to wait longer to achieve similar success in England’s most famous domestic cup competition.
Controversial Moments Decide Tight Contest.
The encounter featured several controversial moments involving referee Jarred Gillett.
Fulham believed they had taken the lead in the first half after an unusual incident involving Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
The goalkeeper attempted to take a quick goal-kick which struck teammate Ryan Manning before falling to Rodrigo Muniz, who finished into the net.
However, the referee had already blown his whistle, ruling that the ball was still moving when the goal-kick was taken. Because play had been stopped before the ball crossed the line, the incident could not be reviewed by VAR.
Another controversial moment occurred in the second half when play was halted for a foul just as Southampton forward Cyle Larin broke through on goal.
Replays suggested he was onside and had a clear scoring opportunity before the whistle stopped the attack.
Late Penalty Sends Southampton Through
Southampton eventually found the decisive moment late in the match. Midfielder Finn Azaz, who had earlier struck the crossbar, won a penalty after going down under pressure from Fulham defender Joachim Andersen.
Stewart stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick in stoppage time to hand Southampton a dramatic victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Following their FA Cup exit, Fulham will now shift focus back to the Premier League, where they currently sit 10th on the table with nine games remaining this season.
