Manchester United have already been eliminated from the FA Cup in the 4th round. Ralf Rangnick’s team lost in front of their home crowd against the second division team FC Middlesbrough. In the penalty shootout, it was only the 16th kick that decided the match.
The FA Cup offered the most realistic chance for Ralf Rangnick to win a title in his first year. And the Red Devils’ starting eleven was correspondingly prominent. CR7, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Sancho were expected to do the job up front. In addition, Pogba celebrated his comeback after a long injury break and played for the first time under Rangnick.
CR7 miss from the spot
At Old Trafford, thoughts first turned to the victims of the plane crash 60 years ago. 23 people lost their lives, including eight Red Devils players. The sporting start was provided by Sancho, who started a real fireworks display of chances, but failed to hit the crossbar early in the game (3rd). After CR7 first tried acrobatically with a bicycle kick (6th), he then – a few hours before his 37th birthday – missed a penalty to the left of the goal (20th). In the end, Sancho converted the home side’s superiority into a lead: After a small wobble in the one-on-one, he put the ball with his weaker left foot directly into the right corner (25th).
By the break, CR7 had missed another great chance (27th) until Rashford’s goal was disallowed for offside (31st). The home side lived up to their role as favourites, only the result could have been clearer. At the break, they had over 66 per cent possession and 14 shots on target, but only six of those were on target.
Bruno Fernandes fails to hit the aluminium
The home side started the second half with a double chance (55th, 56th). Only two minutes later, the visitors made their first statement, but Henderson was on the spot (58.). Henderson was powerless to stop Crook’s finish. After Watmore’s preparation, who had a clear hand on the ball, the advanced midfielder scored to make it 1-1 (64th). According to the new rules, the VAR did not object to the goal. United then turned up the heat again, but still lacked the power in front of goal – as was the case with Rashford (72nd) and Bruno Fernandes, who only hit the post with an almost empty box (73rd).
In the final minutes of the game, the Red Devils lost the decisive punch and Lumley only had to intervene again in injury time against Joker Elanga (90.+2). Until then, the two-legged team kept the favourites away from their own box and posed problems for the home side. In fact, the underdogs saved themselves for extra time and sniffed at a big surprise, although it did not look like it for a long time.
Henderson saves United
In extra time, the game came down to one goal. United ran at the visitors but as the game wore on, the English record champions ran out of ideas. It was not until the start of the second half of extra time that Bruno Fernandes tested Lumley again for the first time (108th). United slowed down and brought the visitors back into the game. Henderson prevented the possible 1:2 with a strong reflex against Joker Connolly (116.).
Elanga’s nerves fail
In the end, it was the ultimate showdown for all involved: a penalty shoot-out under floodlights and pouring rain in the sold-out Theatre of Dreams. The second division side went ahead and converted eight penalties, most of them with aplomb, before 19-year-old Elanga stepped up. The joker’s nerves failed him when he took the decisive penalty, and he sent the ball well over the top of the box.
The Red Devils did not rest after the turbulent last week and on Tuesday the Premier League continues. The Rangnick eleven will then play host to Burnley FC.
