Calvin Bassey couldn’t hide his joy after scoring for Fulham in their Emirates FA Cup triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. The Nigerian international opened the scoring just before halftime, powering a header past the United defense to claim his first-ever goal in the prestigious competition.

The match remained tense as Bruno Fernandes leveled the score for the hosts with 19 minutes left in regulation time. However, Fulham held their nerve in the penalty shootout, edging out Manchester United 4-3 to secure the victory.

Speaking to BBC, Bassey expressed his gratitude and excitement: “It’s a privilege and an honor to play here. Coming to a place like this is a blessing, and I’m absolutely thrilled.” Reflecting on his goal, he added, “I like to think I’ve got a poacher’s instinct. I tried to anticipate where the ball would land, got ahead of the defense, and headed it into the net.”

Bassey also acknowledged the quality of their opponents, saying, “They’re a talented side with a lot of skill. Our plan was to take the pace out of the game and keep the ball as much as possible, and it worked out in the end.”