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.
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.