Southampton's FA Cup Upset
Southampton stunned Premier League side Fulham with a stoppage-time penalty from substitute Ross Stewart, advancing to the FA Cup quarterfinals 1-0. Finn Azaz earned the decisive penalty after being fouled in the 90th minute at Craven Cottage — a massive upset for the Championship side.
The victory was a significant one for a Southampton side in the midst of a resurgence under manager Tonda Eckert. Since Eckert took charge in November, the team, which was relegated from the Premier League last season, has climbed the Championship table and is now contending for a playoff position. The win against Fulham extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. Fulham's manager, Marco Silva, made nine changes to his starting lineup for the cup tie, a decision that ultimately backfired. Despite dominating possession with 69% of the ball and registering 24 shots, the Premier League side failed to find a breakthrough against a resilient Southampton defense. The winning penalty was a moment of redemption for substitute Ross Stewart, who has battled through significant injuries since joining Southampton. The decisive foul was drawn by Finn Azaz, a recent signing from Middlesbrough, who was brought down in the box by Fulham defender Joachim Andersen in the 90th minute. This victory marks Southampton's first FA Cup quarter-final appearance since the 2021-2022 season. The club famously won the competition in 1976, defeating Manchester United in the final in what remains one of the tournament's biggest upsets. Southampton will discover their quarter-final opponent on Monday, March 9th, during a live draw. They are ball number 1 in a draw that includes fellow giant-killers Port Vale, as well as Premier League heavyweights such as Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
