How underdogs Boro bundled Man U out of FA Cup
The FA cup battle between Premier league giants Manchester United and Middlesbrough may have taken place last night with Boro progressing via a 7-8 penalty shootout but war actually started on Thursday.
Boro Manager Chris Wilder had banned his boys not to exchange shirts with Ronaldo and other top players that will be on parade for United. According to him they should resist the temptation to worship these players and play them like any other team and earn respect for themselves. The players heeded the advice and fought their way to the next round of the FA cup and wait for it at the Old Trafford.
Anthony Elanga blasted the decisive penalty over the bar and into the Stretford End to spark wild celebrations among the 9,000 travelling fans after the two sides had converted 15 consecutive spot kicks in a high-quality shootout
United dominated the game for long periods before that, attempting 30 shots to Middlesbrough’s six, but the tone was set for a wasteful performance when Cristiano Ronaldo dragged a 20th-minute penalty wide after a foul on the returning Paul Pogba.
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Middlesbrough’s equaliser came in controversial circumstances when substitute Duncan Watmore miscontrolled a diagonal pass from Isaiah Jones inside the United box, causing the ball to bounce up onto his hand before he crossed for Matt Crooks to slide home from close range at the far post.
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 aggrieved by the decision but they had only themselves to blame for their profligacy.