Man Utd Suffer Shock FA Cup Exit
05 February, 2022
Manchester United have been knocked out of the FA Cup after losing to Championship side Middlesbrough on penalties at Old Trafford.
FA Cup
Result: Manchester United 1-1 Middlesbrough (Boro won 8-7 on penalties)
Date: 04 February 2022
Venue: Old Trafford
Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho started alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, while Dean Henderson replaced David de Gea in goal after missing out on a exit in the January transfer window.
United nearly got off to a dream start in the opening seconds when a loose pass around the area found Sancho who curled onto the woodwork before Fernandes snapped the rebound wide.
The Red Devils received a lifeline in the 20th minute after a foul in the area on Paul Pogba by Anfernee Dijksteel led to a penalty-kick, which Ronaldo surprisingly
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steered wide. United weren’t taken aback by that as Sancho stepped wide and worked an angle on 25 minutes to arrow into the far corner albeit with the help of a deflection.With Rashford having a goal disallowed soon thereafter, Ronaldo failed to make amends for his penalty miss as he failed to beat Joe Lumley off a close-range strike.
The Red Devils continued to see the better of the openings minutes in the second half, as Rashford side-footed a cutback over the top before Ronaldo flashed a teasing pass into the side-netting.
Middlesbrough came to the fore the midway through the second half and levelled when Matt Crooks helped Duncan Watmore’s shot into the net, with appeals for a hand ball turned away by the Video Assistant Referee.
The Red Devils could’ve gone back ahead through Fernandes but he battered the foot of the post with 72 minutes gone after pouncing onto a stray pass from Lumley.
Boro added a fresh pair of legs in the last 12 minutes, which had the goal-scorer Crooks withdrawn and Martin Payero introduced. As chances for in particular United followed late on, the match went into extra-time as neither side managed to find the winner.
United were close to retaking the lead late in the additional minutes through the head of Fernandes, but Lumley made a stunning save before Henderson denied Aaron Connolly at the other end.
With more chances falling particularly for United, a penalty shoot-out followed and after a marathon shoot-out Anthony Elanga missed United’s decisive kick to see Boro into the next round.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za