Fans spot Raul Jimenez’s crucial role in Fulham’s penalty shootout win over Man United

Fans have spotted the pivotal role that Fulham striker Raul Jimenez played in his side’s penalty shootout win over Manchester United on Sunday.

Penalties were needed to separate the two sides at Old Trafford after their fifth round FA Cup tie finished 1-1 following extra time. 

With a place in the quarter-finals on the line, all four of Fulham’s penalty takers kept their nerve, while Bernd Leno saved spot-kicks from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee to earn the visitors an impressive victory.

Leno was rightly hailed as Fulham’s hero, but it has since emerged that he had some help from Jimenez, who had scored his own penalty to set Fulham on their way to the last eight.

As the players gathered on the halfway line, the Mexican forward could be seen pointing in the direction that Leno should dive.

He correctly guessed that Diogo Dalot would put United’s second penalty to Leno’s left, but the German shot-stopper ignored him and went the wrong way.

Leno followed his instructions and pulled off the save to give Fulham the advantage in the shootout

Jimenez scored his own penalty and then helped Leno to book Fulham’s place in the quarter-finals

However, he learned from his error for United’s fourth spot-kick, as he followed Jimenez’s instructions.

This time, Jimenez predicted Lindelof would go to Leno’s right and he did exactly that, with Leno pulling off a fine save.

The goalkeeper could be seen gesturing towards the halfway line after the save, seemingly acknowledging Jimenez’s help from afar.

That appeared to give Leno confidence as he then went to his left to stop Zirkzee’s penalty to confirm Fulham’s victory.

Jimenez, Leno and Co now have a quarter-final at home to Crystal Palace to look forward to after knockout the defending champions.

Fulham have never won the FA Cup, but are just one game away from Wembley and will fancy their chances of going all the way with a number of Premier League contenders already eliminated from this year’s competition.