Manchester United continued their poor record in penalties in FA Cup as they succumbed to a shock exit in the competition to Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Friday night.
Young forward Anthony Elanga ballooned his spot-kick over the bar as Chris Wilder’s side proceeded to the fifth round.
Middlesbrough and their travelling 9000 fans will be thoroughly delighted with the win as it was only the second time in 11 meetings with Premier League opposition that they had progressed
United missed a host of chances against Middlesbrough as they crashed out of the FA Cup via a penalty shootout.
Jadon Sancho gave United the lead in the 25th minute with his first FA Cup goal but Middlesbrough equalized in the second half in rather controversial fashion.
The goal was scored by Matt Crooks, but in the build-up, there was a clear handball from Duncan Watmore.
Once the game boiled down to a shootout, Middlesbrough player’s eyes must have surely lit up, especially because United have been extremely poor in that department in recent years.
As a matter of fact, Manchester United have never won a penalty shootout in the FA Cup in the competition’s history.
Before Friday’s shootout, the last FA Cup game involving Manchester United that had to go on penalties was in 2008/09 when they lost to Everton 4-2 in the semi-finals.
And in 2005, Sr Alex Ferguson’s side famously lost to penalties (5-4) in the final against Arsenal.
The Red Devils have also not faired well in penalties in other competitions in recent seasons as they lost to Villareal in the Europa League final via a shootout last season while in the 18/19 season, Derby County, managed by Frank Lampard at the time, beat them 10-9 in the EFL cup third round.
In total, United have only won one penalty shootout in their last eight in all competitions.
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