Big upsets, muddy pitches and controversial calls - How rollercoaster Super Sunday showed magic of the Emirates FA Cup is alive and well
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/02/image-dfe2a7b1-16b3-40a7-aa20-5e002e65941a-68-310-310.jpeg)
Published 08/03/2026 at 20:55 GMT
React to this story
Sunday provided a sensational series of Emirates FA Cup ties as Southampton stunned top-flight Fulham before League One's bottom side Port Vale pulled off a momentous upset by taking down Premier League side Sunderland. Norwich City could not make it three shocks from three as they fell to Leeds United but a day of remarkable drama proved the magic of the cup is as alive as ever.
Highlights: Port Vale seal famous triumph over Sunderland to reach quarter-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
If anyone is not convinced that the magic of the cup can survive in the era of the Premier League super-elite, refer them to the events of Sunday March 8, 2026.
In three Emirates FA Cup ties that pitted top-tier opposition against unfancied lower-league foes, two ended with David standing triumphantly on top of a conquered Goliath.
Undoubtedly the story of the day was Port Vale’s remarkable 1-0 victory over Sunderland, a team ranked 57 places above them in the pyramid.
Fulham were also toppled, falling at home to Championship outfit Southampton after Ross Stewart’s late penalty sealed another upset.
Leeds United successfully avoided it becoming a Premier League whitewash by seeing off second-tier Norwich City at Elland Road with a comfortable 3-0 win.
Featuring controversial calls, bizarre disallowed goals, cheeky winks and calls for caps, here is the story of a truly magical day in the Emirates FA Cup.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-d0ba5d25-f104-4f6b-8233-d8fcff12ca55-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch Port Vale celebrate wildly as Waine scores 'brilliant header' against Sunderland
Video credit: TNT Sports
Super Stewart for Scotland?
On Saturday, the FA Cup fifth round promised some shocks without quite delivering them as Premier League leaders Arsenal were made to work for a 2-1 win away to League One Mansfield and Chelsea needed extra-time to squeeze past Championship Wrexham.
Even the two all-Premier League ties had delivered predictable winners, after Liverpool knocked out Wolves on Friday night before Manchester City saw off Newcastle.
However, Sunday soon provided what every neutral craved as Saints bested Fulham at Craven Cottage in dramatic style thanks to Stewart’s last-minute spot-kick.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-a2362285-2ea9-4186-8eee-462fc89d0e7b-85-2560-1440.png)
Highlights: Stewart's late penalty gives Southampton shock win over Fulham
Video credit: TNT Sports
Before then, Fulham had two goals disallowed – the first in unusual circumstances, which we will get to.
But ultimately, the team ranked eighth in the Championship claimed the scalp of their 10th-placed Premier League hosts to make the quarter-finals for the first time in four years and stretch their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions.
Matchwinner Stewart came in for high praise from his manager, Tonda Eckert, at full-time after scoring a third goal in the past four games to earn calls for a spot on Scotland’s plane to the World Cup.
- Match-winner Stewart 'deserves to go to World Cup' as late penalty sends Saints into quarter-finals
- 'Never seen anything like that' - Key goal ruled out for strange reason as Fulham host Saints
"He’s an unbelievable character, Ross. He deserves to go to the World Cup in the summer; he’s doing everything at the moment for the club," Eckert told TNT Sports.
"It’s a big one coming up for him when the season’s over. Very happy to have him and he’s on a very good run."
The likelihood of that happening does look slim, with Stewart having just two caps to his name and the last coming in 2022. Nevertheless – are you watching, Steve Clarke?
Port Vale will ‘fancy their chances against anyone’
The best was yet to come, though. Port Vale went into their clash against Sunderland with seemingly little hope after a season of struggle that has left them bottom of League One.
But the lowest-ranked team in the competition stunned The Black Cats in a tie featuring vintage FA Cup scenes: a muddy pitch, small ground, buoyant atmosphere and goalmouth scrambles aplenty.
Port Vale will now take a spot in the FA Cup quarter-final draw for the first time since 1954 after a fifth win in the competition – despite claiming just six in the league this season.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-861bf973-4899-4272-ab61-ad4c9ad42a88-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Triumphant Port Vale boss Brady 'in shock' after FA Cup win over Sunderland
Video credit: TNT Sports
Can they keep the run going? Kevin Phillips told TNT Sports that he thinks so. "It's amazing what they've done. They thoroughly deserved it," he said.
"Let's not beat around the bush. Sunderland were very, very disappointing today. What an opportunity. Credit to Port Vale, they played the conditions much better, they created opportunities and they've kept a team at bay that's flying in the Premier League.
"They would fancy their chances, on this pitch, against anyone."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-0c414178-b221-4b4b-a996-fbe5f177c329-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Hero Waine reacts to 'unbelievable' atmosphere as Port Vale down Sunderland
Video credit: TNT Sports
Farke's 'little wink says it all'
Daniel Farke's cheeky wink "said it all," according to TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton, after Leeds United went 2-0 up against his former side Norwich City.
The German manager, who twice won the Championship during four years in charge at Carrow Road from 2017 to 2021, was in the stands at Elland Road as he sat out a suspension.
But the cameras quickly panned to his seat when Gabriel Gudmundsson put Leeds two up against The Canaries just before the break, sending the Premier League side on their way to an eventual 3-0 victory.
Farke shook his fists in celebration before pulling out his "little wink" as his side dodged a potential banana skin against the second-tier visitors.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-c0ad24aa-2242-45f4-b517-a0ee7d20c9e5-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch as Farke winks to celebrate Leeds' second goal against Norwich
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fulham denied – ‘Never seen anything like that’
One of the biggest moments of Fulham’s defeat to Southampton was when the London club were disallowed an opening goal in strange circumstances midway through the first half.
Saints goalkeeper Daniel Peretz tried to take a quick goal kick but inadvertently booted it into his team-mate Ryan Manning and the ball cannoned back off him and into the back of the net.
Fulham claimed the goal but referee Jarred Gillett ruled it out as he had already blown his whistle, seemingly because the ball had still been rolling when the relieved Peretz struck it.
TNT Sports co-commentator Adam Virgo was baffled by the situation.
"I have never seen anything like that," he said. "It looks like the ball is still moving."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-34bde1ad-7f60-4973-8bc8-c46d658b0a54-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch 'controversial' and bizarre disallowed Fulham goal - 'I've never seen anything like that!'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Commentator Sam Matterface was left bemused by the decision.
"I think the whistle went before the ball went into the net here," he said. "This is going to be a controversial decision because there was no Fulham involvement here.
"That is why he has then blown the whistle and said that they are going to retake the goal kick.
"However, it was his choice to hit it, they have conceded the goal as a result of that. I think the referee will say that he blew the whistle before the ball went into the net."
Was Ellborg a lucky man?
The Port Vale fans were on cloud nine by the end of their clash with Sunderland, but earlier in the afternoon many of them were enraged that visiting goalkeeper Melker Ellborg was not sent off.
George Hall went through on goal on the hour mark and knocked the ball past the keeper, only to be brought down outside the box as he looked to round Ellborg and score.
The home fans chanted "off, off, off" in anticipation of a red card, but instead the colour to emerge from Anthony Taylor’s pocket was yellow.
For TNT Sports co-commentator Robbie Savage, it was the correct decision.
"I agree, yellow card. The ball is going away from goal. I don’t think it’s going to be a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity," Savage said.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/08/image-c80c7090-c991-4f8f-937b-3e9c0b876c53-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Yellow or red? Watch debatable challenge as Sunderland goalkeeper left relieved
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Is that a goalscoring opportunity from that position? That is the big question. I think the touch is too heavy, taking him away from the goal. Therefore, with that defender there, is it a clear goalscoring opportunity? I don’t think it is but I might be wrong."
There is one tie left in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round, when West Ham host Brentford on Monday, March 9.
The game is live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ at 19:30 UK time.
Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement