Port Vale produced one of the great Emirates FA Cup upsets, as they beat Sunderland 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.
Vale, who sit bottom of League One, got past their Premier League opponents thanks to Ben Waine's first-half header before an impressive defensive display held their top flight opposition at bay.
Waine's quick reactions proved the difference, as he rose to head home a bouncing ball in the box after Sunderland failed to clear a corner and the New Zealand international wheeled away replicating Alan Shearer's famous one-armed celebration in a nod to his own support for Newcastle United.
It could well have been more for Jon Brady's side, with Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg forced to head Luke O'Nien's backpass over his own crossbar before the Swede escaped with a yellow card after bringing down George Hall when through on goal.
Instead it was opposite number Joe Gauci who shone at Vale Park, as the Australian produced a number of smart saves to repel late Sunderland pressure and help Vale create history.
THEY'VE DONE IT 🤯@OfficialPVFC have beaten Premier League Sunderland to reach the #EmiratesFACup quarter-finals 🏆
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 8, 2026
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"We went out and gave it our all, to come out 1-0 with a clean sheet and the performance we put in was outstanding," said Waine.
"They were up for it but the field levelled it a bit. We know that and we were smart and played to the conditions. [It was a] similar game plan to Bristol City and it paid off.
"I didn't even clock it was the quarters we got into to be honest! I just heard that. I know it was 30 years to get into this round, it's amazing."
Elsewhere, Southampton beat Fulham 1-0 thanks to Ross Stewart's late penalty while Leeds United eased past Norwich City 3-0.
Valiants create history
Port Vale have endured a tough season in League One, where they currently sit bottom heading into the final stretch of the league season.
The Emirates FA Cup has been a sanctuary for the third tier side, who only booked their place in the fifth round on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Championship Bristol City - with Waine again the matchwinner.
They started brightly against Sunderland, but it was the visitors who had the best chance early on as Eliezer Mayenda rattle the woodwork after just five minutes.
That was an early scare for Vale but the hosts grew in confidence in what became a scrappy affair.
Sunderland captain O’Nien almost gifted Vale a goal when his looped pass back to Ellborg caused all sorts of problems, and the Swedish stopper was forced into evasive action to nod it over the bar for a corner.
Vale then made the breakthrough minutes later, as Waine headed home after Sunderland failed to clear a corner.
The ball bounced around in the box and after Dajaune Brown failed to connect cleanly, Waine pounced to head past Ellborg and unleash pandemonium at Vale Park.
Ben Waine, a boyhood @NUFC fan, hit the Alan Shearer celebration after scoring against Sunderland 🙋♂️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Bb2yvGZlMl
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 8, 2026
The Black Cats looked for an immediate way back into the contest and almost found it as Habib Diarra beat goalkeeper Gauci to the ball but his shot was wide.
Sunderland started the second half strongly as they hunted an equaliser but were met with stiff opposition from their League One opponents, with Gauci largely untroubled.
Instead it was Sunderland goalkeeper Ellborg in the heart of the action as he brought down George Hall outside the box, and walked away with just a yellow card.
Then it was Gauci’s turn to get involved, as the Port Vale keeper smartly denied Nilson Angulo’s flicked header.
Gauci then denied Dan Ballard from the resulting corner as the Sunderland pressure increased, with Angulo then hitting the post before being flagged offside.
Sunderland pushed harder and harder for an equaliser but it was the home side that almost made it two as Hall once more raced through only to be denied by O'Nien.
That proved the final chance as Port Vale held on to see out one of the most famous victories in their history.
Stewart sends Saints through
The midday kick-off saw Southampton edge past Fulham 1-0 courtesy of Ross Stewart's stoppage time penalty.
Saints - wearing a special shirt to commemorate their 1976 triumph in the competition - had the better of the chances at Craven Cottage but could not find a way through until Finn Azaz was fouled by Joachim Andersen at the death.
Stewart stepped up and made no mistake to book Southampton's place in the last eight at the expense of Premier League opposition.
A superbly-taken penalty from Ross Stewart wins it @SouthamptonFC to book their place in the #EmiratesFACup quarter-finals! 👏
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 8, 2026
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Both sides started brightly, with Andersen’s header forcing Daniel Peretz into a comfortable save before Saints striker Cyle Larin was almost played in by Azaz.
Oscar Bobb was next to test Peretz with a curled drive, which was well matched by the Israeli keeper.
The hosts then thought they had the breakthrough after 21 minutes when Rodrigo Muniz shovelled home after Peretz’s goal kick cannoned off Ryan Manning, only for referee Jared Gillett to have already blown his whistle having spotted a moving ball.
Leo Scienza then had a sight of goal for Southampton when he met James Bree’s cross, but his volley was wide of the target.
However, most of the attacking threat was coming from Fulham, with Bobb again firing on target from inside the area but his effort was smothered by the visiting defence.
Fulham had the ball in the net again after the break but again saw their effort chalked off, this time for offside after Timothy Castagne had stabbed in from close range.
Southampton almost made them pay immediately as Tom Fellows was played through but he was denied by a smart save from Benjamin Lecomte.
Leeds ease into last eight
Leeds United ensured they would not befall the same fate as their fellow Premier League sides, as they earned a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Norwich City.
Lukas Nmecha thought he had the opener after 20 minutes but a VAR review spotted a handball from Wilfriend Gnonto in the build-up.
Sean Longstaff gave the hosts lead just after the half hour, as he produced a delightful touch to control Gabriel Gundmundsson's cross before turning and volleying past Daniel Grimshaw.
A quick break from @LUFC and Joël Piroe finds the bottom corner to secure their place in the #EmiratesFACup quarter-finals 👏
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 8, 2026
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Gnonto had another goal ruled out, this time for offside, as the home side pressed hard to double their lead and a second goal arrived very soon after.
Gundmundsson got on the scoresheet himself, as the Swede stabbed home a loose ball in the box after good work from Dan James down the right wing.
Leeds were well in control by the halfway stage but Norwich pushed for a way back into the contest after the break, and almost found it through Anis Ben Slimane but his effort clipped the woodwork.
Joel Piroe then wrapped up the tie for Leeds with five minutes remaining, as the striker swept home to finish off a devastating counter-attack to send his side into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003.
