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Manchester United dumped out of FA Cup after penalty shootout loss to Middlesbrough

Ronaldo (R) consoles Anthony Elanga (L) after his penalty miss gave victory to Middlesbrough
Ronaldo (R) consoles Anthony Elanga (L) after his penalty miss gave victory to Middlesbrough

Manchester United are out of the FA Cup after a penalty shootout defeat at home to Championship play-off contenders Middlesbrough.

The visitors celebrated a famous victory at Old Trafford after Anthony Elanga's miss saw United make an early exit from the competition at the fourth round stage as the Premier League giants arguably saw their last realistic hope of silverware this season extinguished by Chris Wilder's 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 Elanga struck his into the Stretford End, wrapping up an 8-7 spot-kick success for Boro and sending the 9,500 visiting fans wild.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

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.

Ronaldo missed a penalty in the first half

Boro had looked limited but the hosts' profligacy hurt them 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.

Fernandes inexplicably managed to hit a post with the goal at his mercy and the match went to extra-time and then penalties, with Elanga's missed spot-kick the difference.

Watmore said his handball before Crooks' equaliser was accidental.

The Boro substitute told ITV: "If I'm honest it was clearly accidental. It obviously touched my hand but it was not intended at all.

Ireland's Aaron Connolly (5th from right) came on in the 90th minute for Middlesbrough

"I was hoping it wouldn't be (disallowed). It's just amazing to make a difference and set up Crooksy for the goal.

"Me and Crooksy were in a United age group together here. So it's quite special for both of us - and even more special for him."

Middlesbrough's former United player Paddy McNair described the Championship side's win as "unbelievable".

McNair, who spent five years at United before leaving in 2016, said: "I thought we started the first half quite slow and second half I thought we played really well.

"I thought Duncan (Watmore) played really well when he came on and gave us something different up front. I think we deserved the win. I didn't see it (handball incident) but we'll take it.

"To take them to penalties, it was a great way to finish it. It was unbelievable."

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