Sports

Middlesbrough sent Man Utd out from FA Cup on penalties

Published

2 years ago

February 5, 2022

Manchester United 1-1 Middlesbrough (7-8 on penalties): Anthony Elanga missed a decisive penalty as the home team get ousted.

Manchester United ousted out of the FA Cup on penalties at Old Trafford to Middlesbrough; Alex Crooks equalized in controversial circumstances after Jadon Sancho has put the Red Devils ahead; Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo Surprisingly missed a penalty and the home team wasted multiple chances across the 90 minutes and 30 minutes extra time of play.

middlesbrough sent man utd out from fa cup on penalties

Manchester United was knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough in a 7-8 penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Middlesbrough sent Man Utd out from FA Cup on penalties in a memorable night at Old Trafford that Boro fans will cherish for a very long time.

After the two sides had converted 15 consecutive spot shots in a high-quality shootout, Anthony Elanga fired the final penalty over the bar and into the Stretford End, sparking wild Middlesbrough celebrations.

Manchester United had dominated the game for extended stretches before that, taking 30 shots to Middlesbrough’s six, but Cristiano Ronaldo pulled a 20th-minute penalty wide following a foul on the returning Paul Pogba, setting the tone for a wasteful performance.

Ralf Rangnick’s side did take the lead immediately after the missed spot-kick, with Jadon Sancho collecting a long pass from Bruno Fernandes and hitting home via a deflection (25), but they were made to pay for it.

Middlesbrough equalized after replacement Duncan Watmore mishandled Isaiah Jones’ diagonal pass inside the United area, leading the ball to bounce up into his palm before he crossed for Matt Crooks to slot home from close range at the far post (64).

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Prior to this season, the goal would have been ruled out, but VAR upheld it despite United’s appeals, citing revisions to the handball law implemented during the summer.

A player can no longer be penalized for an inadvertent handball preceding a goal unless he scores it himself, according to the regulations. The goal was upheld because Watmore’s handball was not deemed purposeful and his arm was in a natural posture. Manchester United was justifiably enraged by the decision, but they could only blame themselves for their wastefulness.

In the second minute, Sancho hit the crossbar with goalkeeper Joe Lumley off his line, while others missed far better chances.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s errant spot-kick was one of nine shots he took in the 120 minutes, none of which resulted in a goal.

The Portuguese international scored in the shootout, but he had a poor night overall, shooting into the side netting from a Marcus Rashford cut-back with his best chance.

Rashford was also guilty of blunders, with the 24-year-old being twice denied by Lumley after being played through on goal by Luke Shaw and then Pogba. Early in the second half, he also volleyed over from a Sancho cross.

After grabbing the ball from Jonny Howson on the edge of the Middlesbrough box, Fernandes hit the post in the 72nd minute despite having an empty net to aim at after blazing over from a Diogo Dalot ball over the top in the first half.

In stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes, Elanga headed a gilt-edged chance straight at Lumley. The home team, on the other hand, were out of ideas at that time, their strong start to the game has faded.

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In fact, in the second half of extra time, Middlesbrough came close to winning it without the need for a shootout when replacement Aaron Connolly was stopped by United goalkeeper Dean Henderson from close range.

Middlesbrough had sensed their moment by then and dutifully held their nerve in the shootout, as Elanga’s errant attempt, after 15 perfect penalties, pushed Chris Wilder’s team into the fifth round and eliminated Manchester United’s best hope of silverware this season.

TEAM NEWS

Mason Greenwood was still suspended for Man United after his latest arrest, while Paul Pogba returned from injury in midfield.
Middlesbrough started Paddy McNair against his previous club, while Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun was inserted into the attack.

What both Manager’s said

Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick: “Incredibly disappointed. We should have won and killed off the game in the first half.

“Crossbar, post, missed a 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.

“At the moment when they scored, it was clear that VAR would not allow this goal to stand. We were not well-positioned at that moment, too open and allowed them the counter, we should have won the game.

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder: “We are delighted. The opposition will be wondering how they did not progress, but it is the magic of the cup. We rode our luck, took our chances and took it to a shootout.

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“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 what he is about and saved a few penalties when we worked together, but it’s a fabulous night for the football club and why fans around the world enjoy the FA Cup.

“You cannot get any better than winning at Old Trafford on a Friday night.”

FA CUP Fifth round draw to be held when?

On Sunday, February 6, the FA Cup fifth round draw will take place. It will take place just before Liverpool’s match against Cardiff, which is set to begin at 11.30 a.m.