Middlesbrough have defeated the odds and snatched the win via penalties at Old Trafford
Anthony Elanga missed the crucial spot-kick in a stunning shoot-out which Boro won 8-7 after the tie ended 1-1 following extra time.
On a night when Old Trafford’s concourse caterers went down, Manchester United made a complete hash of what had appeared a cruise of a victory over Middlesbrough. Ralf Rangnick’s side were knocked out 8-7 on penalties, the unfortunate Anthony Elanga missing the decisive kick but, really this was a defeat borne from them seriously losing the plot.
IN BREIF:
If Matt Crooks’s 64th-minute strike that levelled out Jadon Sancho’s opener was controversial as it came courtesy of a Duncan Watmore handball ruled accidental and thus legal, United’s serial missing of chances – including a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty - and inability to control the contest was to blame for the reverse.
Poor Elanga. The young lad looked close to tears. Jones advises him to keep his chin up, then Fred, Fernandes and Mata rally round. A pat and a warm arm around the shoulder from Ronaldo A lot of shocked and sullen faces in the United camp as they wander off. Chris Wilder and his player meanwhile race up the other end of the stadium and cavort in front of the 9,000 travelling fans. Wilder, a winner here last year with Sheffield United, has come to Old Trafford and done a number on the hosts again!
Chris Wilder talks to Quoted “The FA Cup is alive and kicking, especially in Middlesbrough. Not always the best team wins. We rode our luck at times, showed plenty of spirit, the keeper made plenty of saves, and we took our opportunity. I thought straight away it was hand ball, and it would be chalked off, so obviously I was delighted it wasn’t. We didn’t practice penalties, you can’t replicate doing that in front of the Stretford End. We took some really good penalties and heaped the pressure on.”
Man Utd 1-1 (8-7 on penalties)
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