Sunderland 2-3 Fulham: Layvin Kurzawa’s scores Cottagers’ decisive third goal as Marco Silva’s side survive late scare to set up FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Leeds

The romantic outcome was a Sunderland win and, 50 years on, a rerun of their famous 1973 FA Cup final victory over Leeds. Such nostalgia will have to wait for May’s anniversary.

Fulham boss Marco Silva was serving a touchline ban and watched from the press box. It looked like those around him could be writing a fairytale ending as twice the young hosts got to within a goal of their Premier League opponents in the final 15 minutes.

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With 15-year-old schoolboy Chris Rigg on as a substitute and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson storming upfield for corners, it had all the ingredients of a magical cup climax. It was not to be but credit to Sunderland, who fielded nine starters eligible for the Under-23s.

Silva, given where he was stationed, was asked what he would have written in his match report.

‘Fulham deserved to go through,’ he said. ‘You have to congratulate Sunderland for the way they played over two games. It was an epic cup tie.’

Opposite number Tony Mowbray said: ‘We gave a great account of ourselves and there is no shame in defeat.’

On a bitter night when sentiment, as well as fingertips, were to finish deadened amid the chill, it was the warm toes of Harry Wilson which set Fulham on their way to the last 16. Remarkably, given Wilson’s obvious talent, his eighth-minute opener was his first goal in 10 months.

Sunderland keeper Patterson looks like the heir apparent to ’73 hero Jimmy Montgomery – watching on from the stands – but he will know he could have done better. Wilson took aim with the outside of his left boot and, while the shot had pace and spin, Patterson would have expected to turn it around the post, instead of helping it into the bottom corner.

The Black Cats were enjoying their best period and Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo’s shot had just been cleared from the line by Shane Duffy when, at the other end, Aleksandar Mitrovic laid on the easiest of finishes for fellow substitute Andreas Pereira just shy of the hour.

Sunderland’s Jack Clarke curled in wonderfully on 76 minutes but visiting defender Layvin Kurzawa restored the two-goal cushion six minutes later with a close-range blast. Back came Sunderland and Jewison Bennette’s smart chip in stoppage-time dialled up the home volume once more.

Silva was right, it was an epic. But sadly, for the romantics, it was the wrong result.