Matt Crooks canceled out Jadon Sancho's opener to take the game to penalty shootout where Anthony Elanga missed the decisive spot-kick.
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Middlesbrough knocked out Manchester United 7-8 on penalties in the FA Cup fourth round fixture at Old Trafford on Friday. Anthony Elanga missed the decisive penalty to send the visitors into the round of 16 after both sides couldn’t be separated in the 120 minutes of play. Five minutes before the half-hour mark, Jadon Sancho put the Red Devils in front before Middlesbrough equalised through Matt Crooks. United dominated the game with 30 attempts compared to Middlesbrough’s six. Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 20th minute.
WHAT A NIGHT!!!! YOU ARE MY #BORO!!! #UTB pic.twitter.com/GLIfgk2Acz
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) February 4, 2022
United had only themselves to blame for not taking their chances and got punished in the end. In the opening two minutes, a horrendous mix-up in the visiting defense ended with Sancho hitting the bar from the edge of the box before Bruno Fernandes fired over when it seemed easier to score.
Fernandes didn’t have a great night. The Portuguese playmaker headed over from eight yards out and then in the second half, hit the post with the goal at his mercy. Meanwhile in the 20th minute, Ronaldo had the chance to put United ahead when the referee pointed to the spot after Pogba was brought down inside the box by Dijksteel. However, to the surprise of everyone, the Portuguese striker dragged his effort wide.
But the hosts did put their nose in front five minutes after the miss. Fernandes picked up a loose ball in the centre circle and spread it to Sancho down the left. The English winger raced into the box before depositing the ball into the bottom right.Â
Meanwhile United’s wastefulness kept the visitors in the game and in the 64th minute, Middlesbrough equalised through Crooks. Substitute Duncan Watmore miscontrolled a diagonal pass from Isaiah Jones inside the United bix, causing the ball to bounce up onto his hand before he crossed for Crooks to slide home from close range at the far post.
The goal would likely have been ruled out prior to this season, but VAR allowed it to stand. According to the new rules, a player can no longer be penalised for an accidental handball preceding a goal unless he scores it himself. Given Watmore’s handball was not deemed to be deliberate, and his arm was deemed to be in a natural position, the goal stood.
Manchester United were understandably frustrated by the decision but they had only themselves to blame for their wastefulness in front of goal.Â
Rashford was denied twice by Lumley. The 24-year-old was twice put through on goal first by Luke Shaw and later by Pogba. On both occasions Lumley came out of his line to make the save. Rashford then volleyed over from Sancho’s cross early in the second half.
Middlesbrough grew in confidence as the game progressed and they held their nerve in the shootout. After 15 pin-point penalties Elanga fired his spot-kick wide to give Middlesbrough a famous fourth-round win against Ralf Rangnick’s side.
