MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH (1-3 PENS): VAN GAAL'S SIDE SUFFER EMBARRASSING SHOOT-OUT DEFEAT

The Red Devils have failed to progress to the
quarter finals of the cup competition as a
stalemate in normal time led to a penalty shoot-out
defeat following extra time
Manchester United suffered another shock League Cup exit
as they were beaten 3-1 on penalties by Middlesbrough
following a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
Louis van Gaal's much-changed side controlled the
majority of the fourth-round tie, but it was Middlesbrough
who created the best chances over 90 minutes, with
Stewart Downing coming close and the recalled Daley Blind
spared a remarkable own goal by the offside flag.
Jesse Lingard hit the woodwork for the home side and
Sergio Romero twice saved superbly to deny Boro a
dramatic late winner in normal time, after an earlier
howler had come close to gifting them the lead.
Anthony Martial came agonisingly close with an extra-time
header and Marouane Fellaini failed to convert with the
goal at his mercy, but Aitor Karanka's superbly drilled
defence held strong to force a penalty shootout under
the Old Trafford lights.
David Nugent missed for the visitors, but Wayne Rooney,
Michael Carrick and Ashley Young also all failed to
convert to hand Boro a quarter-final spot and condemn
United to another exit to lower-league opposition following
last season's 4-0 humbling against MK Dons in the same
competition.
It was the visitors, fourth in the Championship, who
carved out the first chance of the match, with Emilio
Nsue's scuffed attempt at an overhead kick falling to
George Friend just a couple of yards out, but he could
only shoot straight at Romero.
Fellaini dragged a left-footed shot wide of the far post
after turning well on the edge of the box, and the
Belgium international teed up James Wilson for a tame
effort hit straight at Tomas Mejias a few moments later.
Fellaini saw another effort blocked at the near post
before Downing had Romero at full stretch with a fierce
strike from 25 yards as the half finished evenly.
With Rooney brought on at the break, United stepped up
the pace early in the second half. High pressing gave
Memphis Depay the chance to shoot from 20 yards, with
the ball spinning out of Mejias' grasp and almost
crossing the line.
Boro thought they had snatched the lead just before the
hour mark when Blind bizarrely fired the ball straight
into his own net after Kike had hit the post, but the
offside flag was raised against the striker's first
effort.
Lingard's fine solo run brought another save from
Mejias, but United had another lucky escape when Romero
completely miscontrolled a backpass that bounced inches
wide of the far post.
Romero atoned with a strong near-post stop to deny Ben
Gibson as United, with Martial on for the disappointing
Depay, began to set up camp in the Boro half in search
of a late winner.
Lingard was denied by the post as he smashed Young's
cross goalwards, but Romero saved the home side in the
dying minutes, reacting well to deny Grant Leadbitter on
the break before diving to his right to keep out
Downing's low drive.
The game remained wide open as extra-time began.
Leadbitter shot straight against Chris Smalling when
unmarked in the area before Fellaini just failed to
connect with Andreas Pereira's clipped cross to the far
post.
Pereira himself fired inches wide from 20 yards in the
closing minutes before Martial's diving header somehow
spun just past the post, and Fellaini headed over when
unmarked just yards from goal, meaning penalties were
required.
Rooney's effort was tipped past the post and Nugent
blazed over before Michael Carrick cleared the crossbar
to hand Boro the advantage.
Gibson fired high into the net and Mejias saved Young's
weak effort to his right to send the visiting fans into
raptures.