Man United go down shamefully against Middlesbrough after miss Ronaldo

Friday, February 4, 2022 at 11:55 PM• Last update: 00:08

Manchester United surprisingly stranded in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night. Ralf Rangnick’s side lost the penalty shootout against Middlesbrough after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty early in the game, opening a dramatic night for United. Ronaldo scored beautifully in the series, but teammate Anthony Elanga missed the decisive penalty: 8-7. Middlesbrough, number six in the Championship, moves on to the eighth final.

Ralf Rangnick was able to use Paul Pogba again for the first time in less than three months. The Frenchman (who had not yet played a duel under the new coach) was out of circulation for a long time due to a hamstring injury sustained during training with the national team. Pogba took the place of Fred next to Scott McTominay compared to the previous game with West Ham United (1-0 win). Rangnick’s Dean Henderson also started on target, Luke Shaw started as left-back and Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho occupied the wings, in terms of mutations.

Referee Anthony Taylor had barely whistled before Sancho saw his marker shatter on the crossbar. It symbolized the dominance that United would have during the match. Within fifteen minutes, Ronaldo had already made two attempts, but Middlesbrough closing post Joe Lumley did not have to fear that. Five minutes later he had to. Pogba was knocked down by the Dutch Under 20 international Anfernee Dijksteel and earned a penalty. Ronaldo went behind the ball, but shot the ball hopelessly wide.

Sancho was able to ease the pain for the Portuguese somewhat afterwards. With 25 minutes on the clock, Bruno Fernandes sent a beautiful pass to the left winger, who managed to control the ball with some effort and shot through Lumley’s leg: 1-0. Not much later, Rashford seemed to decide the game early, but the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the flag raised for offside. Ronaldo made many frantic efforts to get his name on the scoreboard; however, the rest position would no longer change.

The second act continued in the same vein. The one-way traffic towards Lumley soon after the break resulted in a huge opportunity for Rashford, who shot wildly over just meters from the goal. Suddenly Henderson had to stand by. With the very first breakout of that game, Middlesbrough fired on the goalkeeper, but Henderson was unimpressed. United’s goalie was knocked out in minute 64. Isaiah Jones launched a great cross pass to Duncan Watmore, who clearly controlled the ball by hand. However, the VAR did not intervene in his assist on Matt Crooks, making the 1-1 a fact. United hastily went in search of the 2-1. Bruno Fernandes and substitute Anthony Elanga had great opportunities, but Rangnick’s team was sentenced to an extension. Little happened in extra time, but Middlesbrough did have a huge opportunity for Aaron Connolly, who aimed straight at Henderson. The penalty shootout that followed remained exciting because no player missed, until the young Elanga shot hard at 8-7: Middlesbrough continues to convert.