MANCHESTER: Man­chester United made an embarrassing early exit from the FA Cup after losing to second-tier Middlesbrough in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford on Friday.

The fourth round got off to a stunning start when the English Premier League giants arguably saw their 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.

Every penalty found the net until Anthony Elanga missed his at the Stretford End, wrapping up an 8-7 spot-kick success for Boro and sending their 9,500 visiting fans wild.

Few could have seen the match going the distance given the way United started.

Sancho hit the crossbar inside 80 seconds of a one-sided first half in which he would fire the hosts ahead via a slight Isaiah Jones defection shortly after Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty miss.

“Incredibly disappointed, we should have won and killed off the game in the first half,” Rangnick said. “Crossbar, post, missed penalty and numerous chances. It should have been 2-0 or 3-0.”

Boro looked limited but the host’s profligacy hurt it, and Duncan Watmore crossed for fellow former United youth player Crooks to score in front of the raucous travelling Teessiders.

Most inside the stadium expected the goal to be ruled out for Watmore’s handball in the build-up, but it was apparently deemed accidental by both referee and VAR.

“We conceded a goal which I don’t understand why it stood. He controlled it with his hand,” Rangnick said. “In the moment when they scored, it was clear that VAR would not allow this goal to stand.”

Even Middlesbrough boss Wilder thought the goal would be ruled out, saying: “I thought straight away it was handball. I thought it would be chalked out and was delighted it wasn’t.”

Fernandes inexplicably managed to hit a post with the goal at his mercy and the match went to extra time and then penalties, where Elanga shot over the crossbar after 15 successive goals.

“The FA Cup is alive and kicking, especially in Middlesbrough,” said Wilder, whose Sheffield United team won at Old Trafford in the Premier League last season. “I told the players it was all about making memories.”

United are without a major trophy in five years and their hopes of ending that drought are dwindling given their Premier League struggles and a tricky Champions League last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid.

The FA Cup embarrassment is the latest hammer blow for United at the end of a painful week that saw their England forward Mason Greenwood arrested over the alleged rape and assault of a young woman.

While still in custody, the 20-year-old was further arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill.

Greenwood, who was released on bail on Wedne­sday, has been suspended from all football activities at United since the arrest that sent shockwaves through Old Trafford.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2022