FaC: United 1 - 0 Middlesbrough (R)
Ronaldo (75)
BBC : Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half penalty was enough to send Manchester United through to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Ronaldo was chopped down from behind by Jonathan Woodgate with the winger clinically dispatching the spot kick.
The excellent Mark Schwarzer had twice thwarted Wayne Rooney when the striker had been put clean through with Boro on the back foot throughout.
Tempers frayed in injury time with substitute James Morrison dismissed for a reckless lunge on the match-winner.
United’s progression to the last four equals the record number of 25 appearances in the semi-finals.
And the home side, depleted and playing their fourth game in 10 days, controlled much of the match with Middlesbrough intent on frustrating their opponents and catching them on the break.
United looked in no mood to let the game go the distance and quickly set about penning Boro in their own half - not that an edgy Middlesbrough side were eager to throw men forward at the other end. In truth, their compact and stand-offish approach suggested they would be more than happy to take their chances in extra-time or penalties.
The visitors, who have not managed to get through an FA Cup round at the first time of asking this season, were restricted to long-range, speculative efforts that seldom troubled Tomasz Kuszczak, with Mark Viduka was too often a one-man cul-de-sac.
Marshalled by the solid Woodgate, Boro stood firm to the attacks of Ronaldo and Rooney.
However, Boro’s hard work in the first half was almost undone by Rooney shortly before the break. The striker was superbly thwarted by Schwarzer after being put clean through by Ryan Giggs in the only chance of note in an uninspiring opening 45 minutes.
Middlesbrough, perhaps realising that their negative approach could not hold out a relentless United attack for a further 45 minutes, created a fine chance of their own 10 minutes after the interval.
Fine work from Viduka down the left resulted in a shot from Stewart Downing that was horribly slashed wide on his weaker foot.
Ronaldo hit the outside of the post from an acute angle after being shunted wide by the excellent Schwarzer and the Aussie then kept out Rooney with an outstretched boot.
But there was little Schwarzer could do about the winner as Ronaldo clinically converted the penalty he had won.
Boro were incensed at the decision, but Woodgate’s only mistake of the match was ugly, awkward and effectively, costly.
With Boro beaten and dejected, Morrison saw red for a late lunge on Ronaldo.
That challenge sparked a melee in which Rooney could easily have been sent off himself after needlessly getting involved in the ruckus.
TEAM
United: Kuszczak; Heinze; Vidic; Ferdinand; Brown; Giggs, Ronaldo Richardson (Park 60); Carrick; Rooney; Smith (O’Shea, 71)
Subs: Heaton; Cathcart, Eagles,
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “It was a clear penalty, I don’t know why they are going on about it.I think there’s a complex about it because it’s Ronaldo.If it had been any other player they wouldn’t have bothered.
“It’s because it’s Ronaldo. There’s been a stigma attached to the boy which is not deserved. He’s a great player, a fantastic player, a phenomenal player. But there’s a guilt complex there. He had nine fouls against him in the first game, when he didn’t have any protection at all. I hear people saying it wasn’t a penalty, but it was clear.
“Cristiano was unbelievable. He’s one of the best players I’ve had in my 20 years at this club and I’ve had some greats.”
Gareth Southgate: “Everyone in the heat of the moment is entitled to a reaction.But it was galling for my players.That’s three debatable penalties in three matches against them this season.”
