By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Three Premier League sides were in action in the FA Cup on Sunday, producing a mix of relief and shock as Leeds United advanced to the quarter-finals while Sunderland A.F.C. and Fulham F.C. suffered surprise eliminations.
Leeds secured their place in the last eight with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Norwich City F.C. at Elland Road, reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since the 2002/03 season. Goals from Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson in the first half put the hosts in control before Joël Piroe sealed the win late on.
The victory ended a 23-year wait for Leeds to return to the competition’s final eight and offered a major boost for a side battling in the lower half of the Premier League table this season.
Elsewhere, one of the biggest shocks of the round unfolded at Vale Park where third-tier Port Vale F.C. stunned Sunderland 1–0. Ben Waine scored the decisive goal in the 28th minute, sending the League One strugglers into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.
The result was particularly remarkable given the gulf between the two clubs in the English football pyramid, with Port Vale battling near the bottom of League One while Sunderland compete in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Fulham were also knocked out after a dramatic late winner from Southampton F.C. at Craven Cottage. Ross Stewart converted a 91st-minute penalty to seal a 1–0 victory for the Championship side and book their place in the quarter-finals.
The decisive moment came after Finn Azaz was fouled in the box, allowing Stewart to step up and deliver the winning spot-kick deep into stoppage time.
With the results, Leeds remain the only Premier League side among Sunday’s trio to progress, while Southampton and Port Vale join the quarter-final lineup alongside heavyweights including Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
The FA Cup quarter-final draw will now determine who stands just one step away from Wembley and the semi-finals.