MAN UNITED 1, MIDDLESBROUGH 1
(Middlesbrough won 8-7 on penalties)
A terrible week became even worse for Manchester United who were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup by Championship club Middlesbrough.
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If the well-documented off-the-field events surrounding Mason Greenwood were not bad enough there came the embarrassment of the Reds becoming victims of a fourth-round giantkilling act.
In the end it was a tale of two penalty misses which proved so costly for Ralph Rangnick’s side which was also on the wrong of a controversial handball decision in the build-up to Boro’s equaliser.
Cristiano Ronaldo, usually so reliable, missed from 12 yards during regulation time and then youngster Anthony Elanga failed to convert the 16th spot kick of an enthralling shootout which ended at 10.53pm when Boro sealed a memorable victory, their 10th shootout success from their last 12 attempts.
After the first 15 kicks were all converted, it was the rookie from Hyde who failed in the heat of sudden death as United’s awful record in shootouts continued as this was their seventh such loss from the last eight.
It was a frustrating night as United as they dominated the 120 minutes enjoying 71 per cent possession and having 30 goal attempts to Boro’s six with nine on target compared to the visitors three.
Embed from Getty ImagesRalph Rangnick, United’s interim manager, said: “We are incredibly disappointed, we should have won and killed off the game in the first half and it should never have gone to penalties. Crossbar, post, missed penalty and numerous chances. It should have been 2-0 or 3-0.
“We conceded a goal which I don’t understand why it stood. He controlled it with his hand.
“In the moment when they scored, it was clear that VAR would not allow this goal to stand. We were not well positioned in that moment, too open and allowed them the counter, but we should have won the game.
“Anthony Elanga, anyone can imagine how he is. He is shattered and absolutely disappointed. It was the eighth penalty which had all been converted.”
For Chris Wilder it was a second successive win at Old Trafford where he memorably won with Sheffield United in January 2021.
And Boro also have history of a penalty shootout success at Old Trafford where they triumphed in the League Cup in 2015.
The Boro boss said: “The FA Cup is alive and kicking, especially in Middlesbrough. I told the players it was all about making memories.
“We are delighted, the opposition will be wondering how they did not progress, it is the magic of the cup, we rode our luck, took our chances and took it to a shootout.
“You can’t do anything when it goes to penalties, you just hope they are positive and they took a fabulous approach. You give yourself an opportunity to witness scenes like tonight, 10,000 fans coming down the road and going away happy.
“Dean Henderson is a good goalkeeper, I know he is about and saved a few penalties when we worked together but a fabulous night for the football club and why fans around the world enjoy the FA Cup.
“We rode our luck and took our chances. The decisions that are made through VAR have changed since I left the Premier League – I thought straight away it was handball. I thought it would be chalked out and delighted it wasn’t.”
“You cannot get any better than winning at Old Trafford on a Friday night.”
Paul Pogba returned for a first start since November 2 as Rangnick named a strong side.
Dean Henderson made his third start of the season in goal while Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo were also in the starting line-up.
Young forward Hannibal Mejbri was handed a place on the bench after being elevated from the Under-23s by Rangnick.
Mejbri has been on two lots of international duty with Tunisia already this season, in the Olympic football tournament in Japan and the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
The 19-year-old was signed from Monaco in 2019 and agreed a long-term contract in March last year.
Former United defender Paddy McNair was in the Middlesbrough team while Arsenal loanee Folarin Balagun made his first start for the Championship side.
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This was the match closest to the anniversary of the Munich air disaster which claimed 23 lives including eight players 64 years ago, and pre-march the victims were remembered.
United made a lively start and came within inches over taking the lead a little over one minute into the tie.
They seized on a defensive mix-up and, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley stranded on the edge of the box, Sancho’s lob from 22 yards hit the crossbar.
Ronaldo then produced an audacious overhead kick from Luke Shaw’s cross but it was easily caught by Lumley.
United had the chance to take the lead in the 19th minute when Pogba was tripped by right back Anfernee Dijksteel, but Ronaldo inexplicably dragged the spot kick wide of the upright.
Bruno Fernandes then volleyed over when completely free from Diogo Dalot’s cross as it looked as though it might be one of those frustrating nights for the Reds.
But United put the setback quickly behind them to take a 25th minute lead when Fernandes’ superb diagonal pass released Sancho on the left and he raced into the box to fire a low shot into the far corner, a terrific finish though replays showed it took a slight deflection of Isaiah Jones, his third goal for the Reds.
And it would have been two on the half hour had Marcus Rashford not strayed slightly offside as he ran on to Fernandes’ through ball.
United produced a scintillating attack the length of the field as Fernandes played a return pass with Rashford before releasing Ronaldo whose fierce shot was kept out by Lumley’s legs.
Boro had their first goal attempt in the 34th minute, but Balogun blazed over as it was largely one-way traffic.
There was consternation just before half time when a tannoy announcement declared due to a technical glitch there would be no half-time food and drinks and fans were urged to stay in their seats.
This was met with chants for the Glazer family, owners of the club, to quit.
United had chances to build on their lead early in the second half.
Shaw and Sancho linked to set up Rashford who blazed narrowly over and then Rashford turned provider for Ronaldo whose shot rippled into the side netting.
Boro’s best chance of the game came in the 57th minute when Jones cut the ball back for Matt Crooks whose shot on the run was superbly turned over by Henderson.
There was controversy as Boro equalised in the 63rd minute when substitute Duncan Watmore, who had only been on the field for two minutes, clearly handled Jones’ cross before lobbing Henderson and for Crooks to slide in at the far post to convert from a couple of yards.
Referee Anthony Taylor gave the goal and it was upheld by VAR official Stuart Attwell as it was deemed accidental so could stand as it was in the build up, but the decision caused consternation as former Reds’ player Rio Ferdinand tweeted ‘what’s the point of VAR?’.
United had great chances to regain the lead as Ronaldo’s angled effort was well beaten away by Lumley.
A poor clearance by the Boro keeper was intercepted by Fernandes who looked as though he was certain to score but saw his shot strike the upright.
United made a double change with nine minutes left when Rashford and Pogba made way for Anthony Elanga and Fred.
Elanga had the chance to become the Reds’ hero in the first of four added minutes but headed straight at Lumley from six yards following a cross by Fred.
United brought on Phil Jones for Raphael Varane at the start of the extra 30 minutes and then Juan Mata replaced Sancho who moments earlier had sat down with what looked like a tight hamstring.
Boro had a chance to snatch victory in the 115th minute as substitute Aaron Connolly got a touch to a all in from the left but Henderson stood tall to make an important block from point-blank range.
Scott McTominay had a chance at the death, but his header was well tipped over by Lumley.
The quality of the penalties before the Stretford End was stunning as the first 15 were converted with clinical precision with all confidently despatched.
But with the pressure mounting it was Elanga who cracked, blazing his kick over the crossbar.