Championship side Southampton booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four years as substitute Ross Stewart rifled home a dramatic injury-time penalty to settle a controversy-laden fifth-round tie at Craven Cottage. The 1-0 win extended Tonda Eckert's resurgent side's unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions and continued their remarkable revival since the German took charge in November.
Fulham, who made nine changes from their midweek defeat by West Ham, had the bulk of possession and registered 24 shots to Southampton's five. But two disallowed goals, a profligate front line and a soft late foul by Joachim Andersen on Finn Azaz proved their undoing on a frustrating afternoon for Marco Silva.
Controversy strikes early at Craven Cottage
The defining moments of the opening half belonged to referee Jarred Gillett. In the 18th minute Daniel Peretz blasted a quick goal-kick that cannoned off team-mate Ryan Manning and into the path of Rodrigo Muniz, who swept the ball into an empty net. The celebrations were cut short by Gillett's whistle, which had been blown before the ball crossed the line as the referee adjudged that the ball was still moving when Peretz took his kick. With the official's whistle pre-dating the goal, VAR was unable to intervene.