Man United knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship Side

In Summary
  • Anthony Elanga’s shoot-out miss sends second-tier Middlesbrough through to fifth round.
Manchester United teenager Anthony Elanga is consoled after missing his penalty (Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United teenager Anthony Elanga is consoled after missing his penalty (Manchester United via Getty Images)

The fourth round got off to a stunning start when the English Premier League giant arguably saw its last realistic hope of silverware this season extinguished by Chris Wilder's Championship outfit.

Jadon Sancho opened the scoring for Ralf Rangnick's star-studded side, but lifelong United fan Matt Crooks levelled and the match finished 1-1 after extra time. Manchester United started brightly, missed a first half spot-kick through Cristiano Ronaldo and yet still led courtesy of a deflected Jadon Sancho strike.

Marcus Tavernier leads the Middlesbrough celebrations. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Marcus Tavernier leads the Middlesbrough celebrations. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

On the balance of play, Rangnick’s side really should have secured their place in Sunday’s fifth round draw inside the regulation. That they did not was due to a combination of poor finishing, questionable game management and controversial officiating.

The ball hits Duncan Watmore’s hand before he crosses for Matt Crooks to score Middlesbrough’s equaliser. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images
The ball hits Duncan Watmore’s hand before he crosses for Matt Crooks to score Middlesbrough’s equaliser. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Was Duncan Watmore’s touch before Matt Crooks’ equalizer handball? It seemed so, but referee Anthony Taylor considered it accidental, as did VAR. It was an odd goal but it did not need to be the turning point which it transpired to be.

From then on, United lost a lot of their vigor and it’s Middlesbrough that are instead celebrating a famous victory and a place in the fifth round, won by a penalty shoot-out.

They were knocked out 8-7 on penalties and so unless Ralf Rangnick’s half-cocked side somehow win the Champions League, United’s trophy drought will stretch to six years, at least.

It meant Middlesbrough ended a 17-year sequence and beat United for the first time since 2005 and could celebrate before their packed and jubilant away support. For United, though, the questions rumble on regarding where they are headed under their interim manager.